Each of Brisk’s new Yerba Maté flavors offer something slightly different but at the core each one can be characterized by a subtle sweetness that is not overpowering and balances nicely with the complexity that the Yerba Maté notes offer. As I drank a 16 ounce can of the Dragonfruit flavor poured over ice the subtle flavors mixed extremely well and each taste ended in a palette refreshing finish that begged for another sip. Each of the three varieties offered something new and exciting, and while I enjoyed each one the Dragon Fruit had to be my favorite due to its subtle complexity.

An hour after enjoying a full can of Brisk Maté I experienced a refined focus that left me more acutely aware and alert, but in no way jittery. I do not enjoy most energy drinks due to their overly sweet nature characterized by a heavy spike in unfocused energy that ultimately leads to a day destroying crash. Brisk Maté is much easier drinking due a sweetness that is perfectly balanced with more complex flavor profiles, then the energy boost that it leads to is much more manageable with no jitters, clearer focus, and no crash afterwards.

If you want a clean energy boost that leaves you productive for hours and does not have the sugar infused sweetness associated with other energy drinks, be sure to try Brisk Maté infused with the versatile Yerba Maté tea.  

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Worse Than Gutter Water: Arrowhead, Aquafina, Dasani, Poland Spring, Nestle, Crystal Geyser, Store Brands

All these brands start life as normal municipal tap water, then get filtered through what must be an overweight and eczema-ridden teenager’s sweaty socks. Arrowhead tastes like cement gravel, Aquafina and Dasani both have a greasy quality to them, and store brands taste like straight tap water at best. Basically, if it’s sold in giant 24-packs steer clear if you love your taste buds.

Decent Mid-Level: Fiji, smartwater, Evian

In a pinch, these will do you fine. Fiji is a step away from being in the “only good enough for plants” category above, as it is sickly sweet and so oily that it coats the mouth. Fiji is my last resort water. Evian and smartwater however are solid waters with both a pleasurable mouth-feel and no describable taste. If you’re not a bottled water drinker already, these are a good place to start your journey.

Best in Class: Acqua Panna, Voss, Anything You’ve Never Heard Of

Acqua Panna is my jam. This is by far the best bottled water that’s widely available and my go-to choice whenever I find it. It tastes just like water should: absolutely nothing. It is like swallowing the void, and it refreshes your tongue and throat for the another bite or the next mile. Voss meanwhile has the amazing ability to feel colder than it has any right being. It is like they’ve bottled liquid cold fusion and given it Norwegian style. Either of these are great beverages, but know going in that to try one of these means never being able to drink the store brands ever again.

And of course, there are all number of crazy glass-bottled wonders from the virgin Ozarks or melted icebergs that run $10 an ounce that are quite good. They are fun to try, but so rare and expensive as to make the pleasure of drinking them not the water but their very rarity and expense. I generally default to tap water in a restaurant before I spring for one of these bottles-with-a-backstory.

Now go drink up!

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