Red Bull Bitter Lemon is one of several non-caffeinated/non-energy-drink soda releases by Red Bull. In 2018, the initial launch included a tonic water, a cola, ginger ale and Bitter Lemon.
Check out our review of Red Bull Tonic Water.
It’s an interesting juxtaposition. Red Bull is best perhaps known for extreme sports and aggressive energy drinks. Bitter Lemon is often though of as a mixer/soda whose glory days were half a century ago.
But nonetheless, Red Bull Bitter Lemon is 13% lemon juice; sweetened with sugar, and flavored with orange, lime and Jamaican Quassia.
Tasting Notes
Poured, Red Bull Bitter Lemon has a robust foaming effervescence that forms a slight head in the glass. It’s also nearly opaque, with combination of golden/lemon juice hue.
The nose is pleasant, with an aroma of bottled lemon juice.
On the palate, there’s a clean up front lemon flavor. Red Bull Bitter Lemon has a pleasant, but moderate sweetness to it. The bitterness is also clean and rather quiet; however, long lasting. The bitterness is subtle. I find that Quassia is a bit more moderate than Cinchona in modern tonic waters. On its own, it lasts about thirty seconds. Though it’s hard to imagine lifelong bitter lemon fans buying a pack of Red Bull— but in terms of quality, perhaps they should. On its own Red Bull Bitter Lemon is a delicious soda.
Red Bull Bitter Lemon and Boodles Gin
The two are incredibly balanced. The Boodles is adding a pleasant juniper note up front and on the finish; while the soda brings lemon early and ends with only a subtle bitterness on the finish.
Overall, Red Bull Bitter Lemon
I say it often on this site— but when judging you can’t assume based on a cover. The Red Bull brand is incredibly powerful. It’s evocative and conjures up a certain lifestyle and product expectation—
But Red Bull Bitter Lemon fits none of those. It’s a nicely made mixer and soda. I’d easily recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Bitter Lemons. Frankly, stateside, this might be one of the best available on the market.
Recommended in its category.
Red Bull Bitter Lemon is available from Amazon in the states.