I was in a shop in Oswestry this week and found Prime energy drinks at half price. I think it was just a couple of years ago that these drinks were released and for a while became an obsession amongst some groups of young people. There were limited supplies and drinks would exchange hands at well over the asking price. So I decided to try the blue raspberry and see what all the fuss was about.

It was disgusting. The strongest flavour was artificial sweeteners, followed by a slightly acid taste. There was certainly no flavour of raspberry. I admit the hit of caffeine was pleasant enough but I would certainly not buy it again. A classic example of trend over reality.

Let me instead sing the praises of retro soft drinks. These can be found at a bargain price and for my taste are so very much better. Most are from Scottish drinks company Barr.

I have to start with Tizer. Bright flashing red colour, it would originally have been made with enough food dye and levels of sugar to send a small child into a Tasmanian devil. These days the sugar has been much reduced and colourings are natural, but the flavour of red and citrus fruits sill dominate. Originally conceived in Manchester as “Pickup’s Appetiser” it is a favourite of mine.

Another Barr staple is their Cherryade. Of all these drinks this is the one that actually tastes of the fruit – although perhaps the dark bottled maraschino cherries you get in cocktails, rather than fresh fruit. When I worked in Scotland I had a friend who worked at Barr and would get me slabs of 24 cans at a a time for next to nothing. Needs to be drunk cold but very refreshing.

The most famous Barr drink is Irn Bru. With the slogan “Made with girders” it does indeed actually contain iron, as well as bright orange colouring and secret flavours. Scotland is the only country in the world that does not have Coca Cola as its favourite soft drink, preferring this temptation. It also used to be the go-to hangover cure north of the border because of unfeasibly high levels of sugar. There was stockpiling in 2016 when these were reduced. I choose the “Extra” version these days because it has no calories but still that original flavour.

The one soft drink I would celebrate that is not made by Barr is Vimto. Launched in 1908 in Blackburn Lancashire it was originally “Vimtonic” a herbal drink found in temperance bars, as an alternative to alcoholic drinks. The fruit flavours of blackcurrant, raspberry and grape were added in 1920 to make the drink we see today. As well as the fizzy pop, I really like the squash version – my chosen drink when navigating locks on the canal.

All of these retro drinks are leagues ahead of Prime, Monster and other so called energy drinks. What do you think? Are you a retro drinker? Do you have your own favourite – cream soda, limeade, or bubblegum perhaps? Are you a die hard fan of Coke or Pepsi? Or can you explain why anyone would drink Prime?

I’m off to find some orange lucozade. See you next week.