I’ve got two things here – Italy, and Dev Hynes. Let’s start with the obvious: Italy. What a country! As much as no Italian would ever admit it, the US and Italy are very similar. Neofascists? Check. Financial corruption, including with powerful elected officials? Check. Widespread racism? Check. Lotsa very religious people? Check. Widespread caffeine addiction? Check. Soda? Check.
Basically, we’re the same. Sorry, Italians. At least y’all won the Euros!
Dev Hynes, aka Blood Orange. What a guy. Ridiculously talented musician who made a transition from the indie-rock scene to a sort of neo-soul/R&B star who has tracks with A$AP Rocky and Diddy. Does he like soda? I would definitely say the answer to that is a resounding: yes.
Enough about things that aren’t soda, let’s talk about soda. San Pellegrino (or sanpellegrino as it’s called on the can) is a brand known well for their mineral water. You know, the ones in the green, glass bottles. Mineral water isn’t quite my thing, but if we’re being honest: this particular product is a soda. It’s made with fruit juice and sugar and the sugar content is comparable to most sodas.
Full disclosure: this is not my first time consuming this. But it will be my first time consuming it with a critical eye, so let’s do this!
Place of Acquirement: Giant Eagle, Columbus, OH
Drinking Vessel/Portion: 11.15oz aluminum can
AROMATICS: 7/10
Aromatics are pleasant. Not super pungent. Definitely smells like orange, but not quite like ORANGE orange. I guess that’s what a blood orange smells like! (I don’t really know the big difference between a blood orange and, say, a navel orange apart from the flesh being darker and it not being quite as sweet.)
FIRST SIP: 8.5/10
Oh yeah, baby. This is good. Sweet and orange-y, but with a certain…. not bitterness, not acidity… Earthiness? I’m really not quite sure.
TASTE: 9/10
It’s very good. I feel like I have to come out and say it: it’s a more refined orange soda. It definitely benefits from the fact that it’s flavored with juice. Even coming from concentrate, it’s better than your standard “natural/artificial flavors” type of thing. As for the taste mentioned in the first sip area, I still can’t quite pinpoint it. It tastes a little like an overripe orange, but not in a bad way at all? It grounds the soda and connects the orange taste to actual oranges.
AFTERTASTE: 9/10
Aftertaste is excellent. In a perfect world, might linger a little longer, but the taste is great.
MOUTHFEEL: 7/10
Relatively standard. This feels a little less carbonated than other sodas. Or at the very least, that carbonation doesn’t hit the mouth in the same way the other carbonation does. Depending on who you ask that’s a plus or a minus but for me: I wish it had a little more bubbly.
DEPTH OF FLAVOR: 8/10
It’s got the blood orange + orange flavor, yeah! There is that extra bit of earthy/plant-y goodness that adds some grounding depth. Could have a little more (a tiny bit of vanilla might make this pop), but otherwise it for sure has enough to keep things interesting.
SWEETNESS: 7/10
It’s a very well balanced sweetness. Looking at the amount of sugar you might not expect that it would be. I’d guess this has something to do with the natural acidity of blood oranges. Regardless: sweetness level is pretty much perfect for what it is.
FLAVOR(S) TASTED: Orange/blood orange.
LAST SIP: 9/10
Retains taste and carbonation perfectly!
OVERALL RATING: 9/10
It’s really, really good. Sure, there are a few areas where it could improve a bit, some could argue it should be at an 8.5 based on those. At the end of the day, though… it’s an excellent orange soda. I may not feel comfortable saying it’s the best orange soda I’ve ever had, but I would feel comfortable saying it’s the best I can think of at the moment. Fanta, Crush, Sunkist, they’re all fine. This is better than them.
