Big Jak energy drinks seem to pop up quite frequently at Big Lots stores. I’m thinking their can designs, which refuse to reveal their flavors, probably have a lot to do with that. For example, I always assumed their Red Big Jak (formerly known as Red Jak), was just their standard energy drink offering; after reading some reviews, I have just discovered that it’s a strawberry/cherry-ish kind of flavor, which would be right down my alley. Maybe if they would make that a little clearer, they could increase some sales, but what do I know?
Earlier on, I reviewed their Big Jak Iced, which actually reveals their flavor on the can, unlike the other flavors. While the iced version had a very fake peach taste (but still received a high score due to the ridiculously cheap $.50/can asking price, paired up with the intense buzz I got after drinking just half a can), I was a little hesitant to try Yellow Big Jak. After all, what was it? A low-calorie version of their Red Big Jak? Lemonade? The ingredients, which consist of no juice, weren’t much of a help, so I finally decided to just wing it and give it a go.
Turns out my estimation was right: It is lemonade! The smell, which is actually fairly weak, smells very similar to a popular lemonade malt beverage; I can’t complain too much, because I’ve been known to throw those back every now and again. The taste is surprisingly tart, without being overly so, and is pretty close to the taste of lemon; at least, much closer than the fakey peach of their iced tea drink. Of course, factor in the obligatory “altered taste” that energy drinks seem to be required to suffer from, and it actually tastes more akin to a malt beverage, than a freshly-squeezed lemon, but I guess you can only expect so much from two quarters.
The kick of energy came rather swift, and lasted a few good hours–I actually ended up timing it just right so that as the buzz was wearing down, it was conveniently bedtime. I’m not sure how much this typically retails for, and with store shelves seemingly becoming more and more cluttered with energy drinks, I wouldn’t pay anywhere near $2 for a can. But for fifty cents, this is an outstanding value, and I would definitely contemplate purchasing it again.
Overall: 7.5/10. Though the packaging is rather secretive, Yellow Big Jak is a lemonade-flavored energy drink that I would be willing to guess is made up of exactly zero lemons (there’s no juice percentage listed, and only the vague use of “natural and artificial flavors” in the ingredients, which doesn’t really tell us anything). However, there’s a decent amount of kick in each can, and when paired up with the ridiculously low asking price of $.50 per can at select Big Lots stores, it’s a great, cheap way to catch a buzz. The lemon flavor is decent, though reminiscent of a lemonade malt beverage more than freshly squeezed lemons. If you can deal with that fact, then chances are you’re really going to like this.
