I’m a big fan of black licorice. The anise-flavored candy is actually at the top of my list of sugary snacks, much to my family’s chagrin, so I was really, really looking forward to trying this bit of Jones Soda holiday oddness.
I have to say, they hit the licorice flavor on the head. The first few pulls of ice cold soda were actually pretty good, going down smoothly with a somewhat creamy texture I didn’t find in any of the other seasonal flavors. As it warmed to room temperature, however, it got harder and harder to drink. The flavor remained the same, but it just wasn’t as palatable. By the end of the glass, I was pretty much done with the flavor altogether.
Ultimately, the black licorice flavor is a mixed bag. Yes, it does taste somewhat like a genuine piece of black licorice, but unless it’s ice-freaking-cold, it’s pretty much unpalatable. As much as I wanted to like it – and I really, really wanted to like it – Black Cat Licorice comes in at just a few notches above Drop Dead Lemon in the Jones Soda Halloween flavor rankings.
And while you’re at it, drinking up the licorice for the holiday season, why not hand out comic books to kids for Halloween?
http://www.comicspace.com/comics4halloween/
More importantly, what’s in the cabinet over your right shoulder? WE MUST KNOW!
It seems like every Jones Soda you sample tastes good when it’s cold, and gets gross when it warms. Are there any flavors that you just love, regardless of temperature? If not, it’s strange that you keep gravitating to Jones…are you just in love with the brand?
Am I in love with Jones Soda? Not particularly, though I ammore fond of them than I used to be since they dropped the nasty corn syrup in favor of can sugar. I’m just focusing on them right now because my goal is to try all of their odd seasonal flavors. If any other soda companies are doing weird Halloween flavors, I’ll gladly give them a shot as well.
As for them not tasting too hot as they warm, yeah, it’s a bit repetitive to read. However, it’s also a pretty important consideration with soda. Drink any soda, and odds are it tastes best ice cold, but a Coke or 7-Up will still taste pretty decent up to room temperature. The Jones Sodas are failing at that, so I’m relaying that info.
Next up, most likely, Jones’ Thanksgiving flavors, and maybe a few of the drinks I had in Shanghai.
Mark Evainer says: Don’t drink the Candy Corn Soda.
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2007_10_15.html#014183
I don’t know if you’re a drinker (and I don’t mean “Party Til You Puke…” I just mean enjoy a drink), but I mixed the Lemon Drop Dead with some Jack Daniels and ice, and it seems that we’ve found the calling for that soda. But don’t drink too much… I’m pretty sure Lemon Drop Dead is made of a special acid formulated to destroy the lining of your stomach. Something tells me the Black Cat Licorice will taste great with Rum.
Pete, I think you may have hit on something here. Using these as mixers never even occurred to me, but now it seems so obvious. If you have any more recipes, let me know and I’ll gladly post them in an article of their own.
Hey, Stephen! Thanks for the review. A it happens, I’ve tried the Black Cat Licorice soda, and I can only agree with your first impression. I’m not a soda drinker by nature… I much prefer hot tea and drink perhaps between two to ten sodas per year. For this soda however, I’ll make an exception.
What I loved about it was that nice little bite, that bit of spice to it. It reminded me of a nice sarsaparilla. While this soda won’t turn me into a regular soda drinker, I do intend to hunt down as much as I can get, so on those rare occasions when I want a soda, I’ll have this handy.
Ya know what I want to pair this with? Vanilla ice cream! Oh, yeaaah…