These Now Foods B-12 Energy Shots are free of all common allergens, and they work gently and quite well. If you are used to guzzling traditional energy drinks, these may not seem as strong at first because there is no caffeine, sugar, taurine, guarana, etc., but that also means there shouldn't be any jitters, or heart palpitations while you're enjoying the energy rush, and there is definitely no annoying sugar crash later. These shots are sweetened with healthy xylitol, not sugar. Xylitol tastes sweet, like sugar, but has no weird aftertaste, the way stevia can. The rush lasts a good, long time, about 4-6 hours, or maybe longer, which is better than most drinks and on par with competing unhealthy energy shots. The box recommends taking only one shot a day, preferably in the morning. It doesn't say what could happen if you take more than one at once, or more than one per day, so I wouldn't recommend it.
This Mixed Berry flavor actually tastes pretty good, considering (which is to say, it's not great, but okay). You just shake it up, twist off the recyclable plastic tube top and squirt it in your mouth; one or two squeezes gets the job done. I've tried other energy shots like this and they tasted beyond awful and didn't seem to work that good. Normally, all energy drinks, even the tiny 5 Hour Energy or 6 Hour Stacker types, make me sick due to whatever horrible chemical and other junk they stick in them reacting with my food allergies, plus all that sugar, caffeine, and/or carbonation isn't good for me (and I doubt it is for anyone else, either).
What I need is a quick, reliable, cheap energy source that is also allergen-free and gentle on my body. This one has no salt, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, or shellfish (and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians, if that's your thing), so it fits the bill nicely. There are no artificial colors or flavors, no sugar.
Aside from the "full spectrum of B-vitamins and supporting nutrients" (including Vitamin C, Niacin, Biotin, Riboflavin, Choline, Inositol, Pantothenic Acid, and Folic Acid), the other ingredients are: de-ionized water, vegetable glycerine, xylitol, natural berry and cherry flavors, malic acid, potassium sorbate (as preservative), and natural french vanilla flavor.
You get the 10,000 mcg of B-12, which is 166,667% of the daily value, 500% of B-6, 200% of B-1, 167% of C, and 200-500% of everything else, except the two ingredients that have no daily value established (inositol and choline, each of which are delivered at 5 mg).
Unfortunately, this product is hard to find in stores, even health food ones, but the price here is really good. Now Foods also makes two other energy shots: ChocoEnergy and L-Carnitine 2,000 (neither available on Amazon as of this writing), but I haven't tried those. I use Now Foods vitamins (also allergen-free) and think they are really good.
These B-12 energy shots are the perfect alternative for a healthier energy drink, and just about the only choice for today's "on-the-go" people with food allergies, or chemical sensitivities, or anyone who is sick or scared of hurting themselves with the harsh energy drinks lining supermarket and convenience store shelves.
UPDATE (May 20, 2011): I've been using this product as recommended for almost two weeks now and can happily say it works well (of course, some days seem better than others depending on my sleep schedule and/or motivation). No weird side affects, no allergic reactions. Good stuff!