V8 Splash is a fruit juice beverage made by the Campbell Soup Company as a spinoff of their popular V8 line of vegetable-based beverages. It was introduced in test markets in 1999 and produced nationally in the United States starting in 2000.
Details
What is in V8 Splash? V8 Splash is a mix of carrot juice and various fruit juices; there are ten (or eleven or thirteen, depending on how you count) kinds of V8 Splash, each described below.
Is it any good? Most flavors are quite palatable. You are encouraged to try them yourself, however.
The "I Am A Dork" Questions
Is there really an "eleventh" flavor? I have heard rumors of an "Apple Medley" flavor, but I have never seen it in stores; I have shopped in several regions of the United States seeking out this Holy Grail of V8 Splash, but alas, no luck. If you are aware of the existence of the mystical "Apple Medley," please send me a /msg.
What about the issues with Island Blend & Orange Pineapple? From what I can tell, Island Blend was one of the original flavors, and it was by far the worst. It apparently didn't sell well (the V8 Splash line as a whole has been successful), so the Campbell Soup Company hastily repackaged it as "Orange Pineapple," with minimal redesign, merely replacing the berry juice with pineapple juice. It is much better than the original flavor.
What about the issues with Grape Blend & Passion Berry? This one is much more confusing. The packaging of these two products is completely identical other than name, yet I have seen them side by side on the shelves. What's even stranger is that they taste almost identical; the so-called "Grape Medley" is pretty weak on the ol' grape.
Varieties of V8 Splash
There are ten (officially) varieties of V8 Splash. Basic information about each follows, including a taste test.
Note: Taste test conducted in a single afternoon with a group of friends and a collection of all ten flavors.
Tropical Blend
This is a mix of carrot, apple, pineapple, kiwi, lime, and mango juices, forming a dark pink colored juice.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 40 mg (2% RDA)
Potassium: 140 mg (4% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 27 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 25 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: The pineapple and lime flavors seem to dominate, at least to my palate. This is not entirely a bad thing, but to me I can taste just enough of the apple that it contrasts with the pineapple. Not the worst flavor, but far from the best.
Availability: Tropical Blend is available in 11.5 oz. (340 mL) cans, 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles, and 64 oz. (1.89 L) plastic bottles.
Strawberry Kiwi
This is a mix of carrot, apple, kiwi, and strawberry juice, making a dark orange/pink colored juice.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 35 mg (1% RDA)
Potassium: 140 mg (4% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 27 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 26 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: This is better than Tropical Blend; in fact, it tastes a lot like Tropical Blend without the overriding pineapple flavor.
Availability: Strawberry Kiwi is available in 11.5 oz. (340 mL) cans, 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles, and 64 oz. (1.89 L) plastic bottles.
Fruit Medley
This is a mix of carrot, pear, apple, pineapple, and cherry juice, making for a distinctive red color (probably from the cherries).
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 40 mg (2% RDA)
Potassium: 140 mg (4% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 28 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 27 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: If you want an undistinctively flavored juice, this one is it; it's really hard to comment on anything other than its plain-ness.
Availability: Fruit Medley is only available in 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles.
Citrus Blend
This contains carrot, pink grapefruit, apple, lemon, and lime juices, which mix together to make a pink color much the same as the skin of a grapefruit.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 45 mg (2% RDA)
Potassium: 140 mg (4% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 28 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 27 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: This is very much like grapefruit juice, only a touch sweeter and with some other accentuating flavors. If that sounds appealing, you'll like this; if not, skip on past this one.
Availability: Citrus Blend is only available in 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles.
Berry Blend
This contains carrot, apple, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry juices, mixing to a very dark pink color juice.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 35 mg (1% RDA)
Potassium: 140 mg (4% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 27 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 26 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: Quite good, and universally liked among those I know who have tried it. This would be a good choice if you've not tried a V8 Splash flavor.
Availability: Berry Blend is available in 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles, and 64 oz. (1.89 L) plastic bottles.
Island Blend / Orange Pineapple
This contains carrot, orange, and strawberry juice. In virtually identical packaging, the "Orange Pineapple" variation replaces the strawberry with pineapple juice. The Island Blend flavor is a light pink color, but the "Orange Pineapple" variant is very orange colored.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 40 mg (2% RDA)
Potassium: 130 mg (4% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 28 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 25 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: We acquired both variations for the test, and found that the regular Island Blend is perhaps the worst flavor of all; it is truly bland. The "Orange Pineapple" repackaging is much, much better, with the orange and pineapple flavors mixing well.
Availability: The original Island Blend can only be found in 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles, but the "Orange Pineapple" repackaging can be found in 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles as well as 64 oz. (1.89 L) plastic bottles.
Strawberry Banana
This contains carrot, strawberry, apple, and banana juice, and has a nice pink color.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 40 mg (2% RDA)
Potassium: 140 mg (4% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 27 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 25 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: This is pretty much what you'd expect; strawberry/banana fruit mixes have been around for a long while. Nothing special.
Availability: Strawberry Banana can be found in 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles as well as 64 oz. (1.89 L) plastic bottles.
Passion Berry / Grape Blend
This contains carrot, passionfruit, strawberry, blackberry, and raspberry juice, while the "Grape Blend" variation replaces the passionfruit with grape (but not in high quantity). Both have a dark pink coloration.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 45 mg (2% RDA)
Potassium: 110 mg (3% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 27 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 27 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: Even though they sound distinct, both are rather nondescript and are very similar to one another. Not highly recommended; try some of the other varieties instead.
Availability: Both variations can seemingly only be found in 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles
Peach Lemonade
This contains carrot, peach, and lemon juice, and has a bright orange color.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 45 mg (2% RDA)
Potassium: 70 mg (2% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 27 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 26 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: Best flavor, hands down. It is wonderfully distinctive and rich; it is easily my favorite flavor of V8 Splash.
Availability: Peach Lemonade can be found in 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles as well as 64 oz. (1.89 L) plastic bottles.
Raspberry Lemonade
This contains carrot, raspberry, and lemon juice, which mix together for a very dark red juice.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 8 fl. oz.
Calories/Serving: 110
Total Fat: 0 g (0% RDA)
Sodium: 45 mg (2% RDA)
Potassium: 70 mg (2% RDA)
Total Carbohydrates: 27 g (9% RDA)
Sugars: 26 g
Protein: 0 g
Vitamin A: 100% RDA
Vitamin C: 130% RDA
Vitamin E: 20% RDA
Taste Test: This is a very good lemonade variant; it is my second favorite flavor, although others did not think that highly of it.
Availability: Raspberry Lemonade can be found in 16 oz. (473 mL) glass bottles as well as 64 oz. (1.89 L) plastic bottles.
This writeup was written with the (very limited) aid of various Campbell's Soup Company public websites (http://www.v8juice.com, http://www.campbells.com, and http://www.dineaid.com). These sites actually contradict each other and make little sense; I mostly relied on my own notes and saved labels.