 Eric Samples URGE
Like so many SURGE fans I have often wondered about my favorite soda's Norwegian equivalent, URGE. Of course, I was left just to wonder because for years we were unable to purchase it from a reliable vendor. Thanks to Halvor, I was finally able to get my hands on a bottle of Norwegian citrus goodness! It arrived on March 9, 2005 and it was much anticipated to say the least. After allowing my bottle several hours in the fridge to chill, I was ready to take that first sip...
The Review
 As I first opened the bottle, I was hit with a very familiar fragrance. The smell was so much like SURGE and I knew at that point that I was REALLY going to enjoy this bottle of soda!
The first sip was outstanding! URGE has a taste just slightly different than SURGE. At first, this soda has a hint of orange flavor and was just a tad less smooth. However, it seemed like the more I had to drink, the smoother URGE became. It was very similar to SURGE in that it hits you when you first try it, but you grow to love it as you work your way through the bottle.
This is easily the closest thing to SURGE I have ever tasted. URGE came out a year before SURGE (it was test marketed in Europe in 1996, SURGE came out in 1997) and you can really taste the similarities in the formulas.
How they Compare
 At this point, I'll say that SURGE has a slightly more smooth and refined taste. However, I've only had one serving of URGE and I feel like it's something that I would have to drink more often in order to really study the taste ;) URGE definitely has a hint of orange flavor and perhaps that is the biggest difference. Also, although I cannot read Norwegian, I have to think that URGE has real cane sugar as its sweetener while SURGE uses corn syrup.
My Recommendation
I would recommend URGE to any SURGE fan out there! Right now, the cost of shipping from Norway is expensive but then again so is buying expired SURGE on eBay. As far as taste goes, it is hard to think that the vast majority of SURGE fans wouldn't enjoy this great taste. There are slight differences but URGE is absolutely delicious and as close to SURGE as you will ever find.
Other Observations
The 0.5 liter plastic bottle seemed much more rigid (ahem, well made) than plastic bottles from the US.
The color of URGE is a very faint orange, unlike the neon-green we are used to with SURGE. Apparently, Norway has different laws regarding the use of food colorings. But since URGE has a slightly orange flavor, that may have something to do with it as well.
The URGE logo is quite remeniscent of the original SURGE logo. Besides the name, the main difference is that the URGE logo uses black text on an orange background while SURGE uses black text on a dark red background.
On the lower right of the label, the words "Sitrus Smak" appear. |
Our friend Halvor lives in Norway and will ship URGE to your door! Click here for more information. |
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