Red Bull Sugar Free

Red Bull Sugar Free is an energy drink that bartenders and home mixers use as a carbonated, sweetened-tasting mixer without the sugar load of the regular version. Expect a tart, slightly medicinal-sweet profile with fruity notes, often described as tangy berry or tutti-frutti, finished by the dry, lightly bitter edge that artificial sweeteners usually leave. Because the sweetness is thinner than a sugar-based mixer, it tends to read as crisper and less syrupy once it is poured over a spirit. Serve it well chilled, ideally straight from the fridge. Warm can contents go flat and exaggerate the sweetener note, while cold liquid keeps the carbonation lively. Pour it gently down the side of a tilted glass or over a bar spoon to hold the bubbles. It is not a drink to age or warm up, so open the can when you are ready to pour. As a mixer, the classic pairing is vodka. Two parts Red Bull Sugar Free to one part vodka over plenty of ice makes a tall, simple highball. Its sharper acidity also suits clean white spirits such as gin or white rum, where it behaves a little like a tonic with more fruit. Adding a lime wedge, or a splash of cranberry or blue curaçao, rounds out the sweetness and adds color. Heavier or barrel-aged spirits like bourbon tend to clash with its sweetener profile, so keep those for neat pours or other mixers. Use a tall highball or Collins glass filled with ice, since the volume and the carbonation both do better with room and cold. Pour the spirit first, add the Red Bull Sugar Free last, and stir once, gently. For food, expect it to match salty, fried or spicy snacks such as chips, wings or nachos, where the acidity and fizz cut through grease and heat. Avoid pairing it with delicate dishes, since the strong flavor will overpower them.