Ducal - 2 Reviews

There is a royalty in the world of nectars. There are kings, queens, prince and princes in the juice world. The chin of command goes all the way down to the serfs (aka gallon gas station jugs of brine). Somewhere around the middle are the dukes and duchesses. These are the nectars that are still very tasty, but they do not have a pure bloodline. Get it? They aren't 100% juice. Appropriately named, Ducal, falls in this category. It has 25% juice in the form of mango pulp concentrate. It may not be as spectacular as the crown wearing juices, but it's nothing to scoff at. Taking a sip is what I imagine taking a big bite into mango covered in sugar. It's sweeter than you really need it to be, but you still enjoy it all the same. There is no reason to take a knee for it, but show a little respect and give it a nod of recognition.

I have never drunk apple nectar before. Since most beverages that are labeled nectars are basically a thicker version of the juice, I was expecting this to be somewhere between apple juice and applesauce. Excitement ran high. Let it be known that when I purchase a bottle of applesauce I do not eat it with a spoon like a normal civilized human being. Instead I drink it straight from the bottle, and it's glorious. Why dirty your silverware?

Unfortunately this was only slightly thicker than normal apple juice. I would estimate that there is maybe a spoonful of applesauce mixed in with the rest of the drink. It has a little texture, but nothing to write your congressman about. The real downfall of the drink is the added sugar. If there were ever a juice that did not need added sweetener it was that of the apple. Adding sugar to apple juice gives it a weird candy flavor, which is not what I want at all. If this would have been a thicker/slightly more textured apple juice I would have been pumped. Instead it's sweetened apple pulp concentrate that has way to much sugar in it for any self respecting lover of the fruit.