Citrus Cooler Is Back!
Reader Greg DeSantis reports that he recently picked up some bottles of defunct Gatorade flavor Citrus Cooler in North Carolina. And it couldn't have been an old stash because it's in the new grippable 64 oz. size. I never was a fan of Citrus Cooler, but I've probably never received more mail about a particular flavor. Citrus Cooler debuted in late 80's and when Gatorade signed Michael Jordan, they put his image on bottles of the drink. But, for some reason, it was discontinued. I find the flavor unremarkable and as Greg points out, hardly necessary now that we have a slew of better flavors including Mango (my favorite flavor). I'll try to find out more about why it's back. The drink is still not on the official Gatorade Web site.
Does this mean a different company has a Gatorade flavor?
Todd Charske
Posted by: Todd Charske | May 25, 2006 at 09:25 PM
I was also in N.C. in early June, where I picked up both Citrus Cooler and Tropical Intenso Gatorade at different stores. I have been unable to find these flavors anywhere else. Hopefully they are being brought back, as it didn't make sense to discontinue two popular flavors given all the crappy new flavors Gatorade has.
Posted by: Mark Niemi | June 04, 2006 at 03:13 PM
i loved citrus cooler, my favorite flavor and a lot of people I know.
Posted by: ryan new jersey | March 23, 2007 at 11:38 PM
I picked up a bottle of Citrus Cooler here in NYC last week. When I went back today to get some more they were all sold out and I can't find it anywhere else. It's my favorite flavor and I'll be very disappointed if it's gone for good again...
Posted by: Mike NYC | June 03, 2007 at 05:15 PM
I've seen in the the publix grocery store in daytona, FL ... but that the only place i've seen it.
Posted by: J.D. | September 10, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Um... they never got rid of Citrus Cooler, but it has been on a limited distribution for probably close to ten years. I actually bought a bunch in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina about two years ago. It isn't uncommon to find in the southeast, but is impossible to find in the part of the midwest I'm in: Illinois, Missouri, Indiana. Not sure about anywhere else.
Posted by: Blake Edwards | September 11, 2007 at 08:45 PM
Indeed, Citrus Cooler was never discontinued. However, I spoke with a Gatorade representative earlier today who informed me that you can still find it nationwide, albeit not sold individually. Stores like Costco and Sam's Club sell 24 cases of 20 oz. bottles. The "Xtremo" variety cases supposedly include 8 bottles of Mango Electrico, 8 of Tropical Intenso and 8 of Citrus Cooler. I checked out the Sam's Club website to confirm, and the aforementioned product instead contained 12 bottles each of Mango Electrico and Tropical Intenso. I'll have to actually go to the store to verify. Interestingly, I recently stumbled upon a Mobil station in Forest Park, IL (very close to Chicago) that had individual 20 oz. bottles of it. They had 3 bottles total, 1 in the new transparent label style and 2 with the older style label. All were of the "Xtremo" variety, which seems to support what the Gatorade rep told me. Note that this flavor is sold as a classic flavor in the southern states.
Posted by: RuinerXL | September 14, 2007 at 06:07 PM
Hey People we have to do something it seems that the most popular flavors we like we can't find I love the citrus cooler always did it is by far my favorite. I live in the Hudson Valley in New York and every once in a blue moon can find it and when I do I whipe out the store!!!!
Posted by: Mandy | September 21, 2007 at 07:03 PM
Following up on my earlier post: I went to a local Sam's Club in Des Plaines, IL and found a 24 case of Xtremo Gatorade which DID indeed contain 8 bottles of Citrus Cooler. Rejoice, all ye who've had a hard time finding it. And go get a Sam's Club membership!
Posted by: RuinerXL | September 23, 2007 at 01:34 PM
Citrus Cooler...I love it and can't live without it.
I've been buying it for years in NC but was S.O. L. when I moved to Maryland. Contacted Gatorade about the situtation and was told that it was only available in Southern States. To which I responded with a geography lesson that Maryland is below the Mason-Dixon line. They responded that it is available in Flordia, Georgia, North & South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.
I have been able to find it in a few Food Lion stores and tend to wipe them out each time I find it.
Hopefully, Food Lion Corporate will notice that it is moving off the shelves.
Duke's mayo, Minute Maid Rasberry Lemonade Frozen Concentrate, Five Alive Frozen Concentrate, Eastern North Carolina Barbq......all reasons I need to get back to the South
Posted by: straycat | November 01, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Citrus Cooler...I love it and can't live without it.
I've been buying it for years in NC but was S.O. L. when I moved to Maryland. Contacted Gatorade about the situtation and was told that it was only available in Southern States. To which I responded with a geography lesson that Maryland is below the Mason-Dixon line. They responded that it is available in Flordia, Georgia, North & South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.
I have been able to find it in a few Food Lion stores and tend to wipe them out each time I find it.
Hopefully, Food Lion Corporate will notice that it is moving off the shelves.
Duke's mayo, Minute Maid Rasberry Lemonade Frozen Concentrate, Five Alive Frozen Concentrate, Eastern North Carolina Barbq......all reasons I need to get back to the South
Posted by: straycat | November 01, 2007 at 11:16 AM
not sure how RunierXL hi-jacked my post, sorry for the duplication
Posted by: straycat | November 01, 2007 at 11:17 AM