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New microsized shooters offer big energy in small packages

Does size matter?

The energy drink industry can’t seem to decide. Even as such market mainstays as Red Bull and Monster roll out larger doses in bigger cans — 12-ounce Red Bulls versus 24-ounce Monsters, somebody make some noise — others are taking an opposite approach.

A new crop of microsized energy shooters are popping up, aimed at delivering big things from small packages. Not large enough even to be called pint-sized, the pocket-sized shots are perfect for the warrior on the go.

This was not done by accident. Recent military studies indicate that caffeine — specifically, about 200 milligrams every two hours, for up to eight hours — can significantly improve the performance of sleep-deprived troops.

The results led to products such as AMMO and Upshot, microshooters designed to provide troops — and anyone else who needs it — with a convenient alternative to traditional caffeine chewing gum, pills and drinks.

Hey, we’ve always been impartial, unbiased, “size of the fight in the dog” types around here. So we did a few shots to see what all the fuss is about:

AMMO

Operating on the notion that troops in the field shouldn’t be chewing instant coffee to get their caffeine fix, the mixologists at Bevolution Brands came up with AMMO. Squeeze a bottle of this concentrated, caffeinated concoction into 12 ounces of water, and enjoy the rush (slurping it straight from the bottle — not recommended by the manufacturers — is a lot like swallowing high-octane maple syrup).

Sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and granulated sugar, each shot packs 130 mg of caffeine, 100 calories and 24 grams of carbohydrates. It was easily the tastiest of the group. The final product is expected to roll out by April 1; you can pre-order on the company’s Web site.

5-hour Energy

Probably the most accessible of the bunch, available now at drugstores and other retailers nationwide, 5-hour Energy promises all of the energy with none of the crash. Sugar free, with no carbohydrates and only eight calories, the drink is little more than a shot of vitamins B6 and B12, amino acids with a caffeine chaser. The company hides that caffeine content inside a 2,100 mg proprietary blend of amino acids, saying only that it “contains about as much caffeine as a cup of coffee.” A strong cup of java has only about 100 mg of caffeine, so 5-hour Energy probably isn’t going to glue you to the ceiling if used responsibly. Unfortunately, the taste reminded us of cough syrup.

Kore Energy Shot

Not to be outdone, GNC launched its own house brand microblast, Kore Energy Shot. Also containing 100 mg of caffeine wrapped inside a berry flavoring, the shooter is similar to 5-hour Energy but contains more balanced levels of B vitamins (they’re known to boost metabolism — Kore cuts back on the B6 and B12 but adds B1 and B2.) Even so, Kore couldn’t shake the medicinal taste, either.

Upshot Energy Shot

From the California-based company Drinks That Work Inc. comes Upshot Energy Shot, a tiny herbal supplement loaded with caffeine, sugar and such additives as guarana seed extract and green tea extract (plus kola nut extract, Salvadorian coffee extract and more, depending on the flavor).

At about 200 mg of caffeine per shot, one tiny bottle is like drinking two strong cups of coffee (or 2½ cans of Red Bull) in a single gulp. Thank goodness it goes down quick, because the strongest of the bunch leaves something to be desired in the taste department. However, the Mocha blend wasn’t half-bad when added to protein shakes or chocolate milk. Making a huge push to get military dollars, Upshot created camouflaged labeling for the troops and is replacing the shiny silver cap with a black plastic cap to make it less noticeable in the field. It’s got 40 calories and 10 g of carbs, if you’re counting.