Virgil’s | Root Beer Respect

Virgil’s Special Edition Bavarian Nutmeg Root Beer

Website: http://reedsinc.com/product/virgils-bavarian-nutmeg/

Sweetener: Cane Sugar

Bottled at: Los Angeles, California

Purchase Location: World Market

Virgil’s Special Edition Bavarian Nutmeg Root Beer is so good-looking in its over-sized 16.9 fluid ounce bottle with its resealable top that I felt a little guilty even thinking of opening it. Yet this special edition beverage called out to me. How can you resist a root beer claiming to be “So Pure, So Rich, And Creamy, You’ll Swear It’s Made In Heaven”? Claiming to be the root beer equivalent of what Ben and Jerry’s is to ice cream? You can’t. Well, I couldn’t. I did, however, think it would be best to drink this brew on a special occasion, an occasion worthy of Virgil’s Special Edition Bavarian Nutmeg Root Beer. Super Bowl weekend seemed to be an appropriate event.

Before delving into the details of the drink itself, I must make one more comment on its glass bottle. The Special Edition bottle is not only over-sized, but the opening of the bottle is smooth with a great lip feel. I never before realized how nice good lip feel can be. With my lips relaxed and comfortable, I was ready to dive into this root beer. Now it was my palate’s turn to be spoiled. Virgil’s Special Edition Bavarian Nutmeg Root Beer has a long list of all-natural spices which are combined to make an extremely smooth and satisfying soda. The initial taste is highlighted by Chinese wintergreen and sweet birch from the southern United States. They create a light and sweet creamy taste. Then Spanish anise and French licorice kick in. Although the flavor was noticeably licorice in quality, it was smooth and creamy throughout, not a hard licorice flavor. Although the original iteration of Virgil’s is a perfectly good root beer, I found Virgil’s Special Edition to be a definite step up from the original variety. This is an expensive soda, but every once in a while everybody deserves a good celebration or special event root beer. This could certainly be that root beer.

Overall Score: 9 of 10.

Virgil’s Root Beer

Website: http://reedsinc.com/product/virgils-root-beer/

Sweetener: Unbleached Cane Sugar, Caramelized Unrefined Cane Sugar

Bottled at: Los Angeles, California

Purchase Location: Total Wine & More

Virgil’s Root Beer is a soda I have been looking forward to from the moment I decided to conduct root beer reviews. It is a prominent root beer with many stalwart fans, and outstanding beverage awards. What’s more, I knew that Virgil’s is made with natural anise and licorice.

The Virgil’s Root Beer bottle is the perfect receptacle for the perfect root beer. It mentions outstanding beverage awards won, explains that that Virgil’s is micro-brewed with 100% natural ingredients including anise, licorice, vanilla (bourbon) cinnamon, clove, wintergreen, sweet birch, molasses, nutmeg, pimento berry oil, balsam oil, and oil of cassia, and displays the perfect root beer label graphic, a bearded lumberjack root beer god stepping out from the clouds to deliver root beer to two eager children. You really have to appreciate both the presentation of Virgil’s and its dedication to a recipe using only natural ingredients “imported from all corners of the world.”

Although it does contain anise and licorice, Virgil’s does not have an overwhelming licorice flavor. In fact, I did not find any flavor to be overwhelming. On the whole, it is has a very earthy, herb flavor due to its many herbs and spices, without a predominant flavor. The ingredients play well together and provide a unique, creamy drinking experience. I liked Virgil’s a good deal, but not enough to place it in the pantheon of best root soda ever. That being said, I can understand why Virgil’s is placed in high regard. The fact that Virgil’s is made by Reed’s, Inc. and is widely available makes this root beer a must try.