If you’re anything like us, countless times you’ve sought out a miracle cure the day after a particularly rowdy fête. We’re with you—the struggle is real.
Being in the biz, we at Wine Enthusiast know our way around a hangover cure, or four. A banana, Sprite, coconut water, breakfast sammy—we’ve tried them all. In addition, a crop of hangover prevention “aids” has landed on our desks, promising sanctuary from terrible headaches.
Each had one thing in common: They are not tested or overseen by the FDA.
Look, if the FDA wants nothing to do with verifying these products’ claims, we’re certainly not going out on a limb, either. But, in the interest of science, we did sample them in the comfort of our Tasting Room at Wine Enthusiast HQ.
Here are the results.
The Tasting Panel
Raven Blake, Assistant Tasting Coordinator
Fiona Adams, Assistant Tasting Coordinator
Carlie Tynan, Social Media Coordinator
Mike Dawson, Deputy Editor
Danielle Della Cioppa, Public Relations Coordinator
Meg Baggott, Photo Director
On the Label
“It’s all about glutathione (gloo-tah-THIGH-on), the body’s powerful but hard-to-pronounce antioxidant, which must be replenished as it neutralizes alcohol toxins. Mercy’s nutrients restore this free-radical fighter, helping you avoid morning-after misery. The new measure of a good night out: How great you feel the next day.”
Ingredient sampling
3855 mg/Proprietary blend of milk thistle seed extract, chamomile hydrosol water, N-acetyl cysteine, alpha-Ketoglutaric acid, L-carnitine, crystalline fructose, natural flavors.
Suggested usage
Make your last drink of the night a can of Mercy. (One can for every 3–5 drinks.) Serve chilled.
Tasting notes
FA: “Smells like vitamins and lemons, but tastes like a sweet soda, like Fresca.”
MD: “Smells like baby Aspirin mixed in with flat 7-Up, but tastes like an already chewed Bazooka Joe.”
DC: “Tastes like cheap, knock-off Smarties… Not bad!”
CT: “Meh.”
On the Label
“Enjoy RESQWATER during and after a night of drinking, or even the next morning to ease the day ahead. We strengthen our water with Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit Extract, B vitamins, N-acetyl L-cysteine, and Milk Thistle, which join forces to help you return to center. These ingredients help metabolize acetaldehyde, the compound that makes you feel lousy after drinking. It’s simple: RESQWATER is what to drink when you drink.”
Ingredient sampling
1150 mg/Proprietary blend of monopotassium phosphate, organic prickly pear cactus fruit extract, N-Acetyl Cysteine, milk thistle, organic evaporated cane juice, natural flavors, salt.
Suggested usage
Not stated. Our best guess is to drink before or after your night out.
Tasting notes
CT: “It smells kind of refreshing, like lemons. On the palate, it tastes like dirty water.”
MD: “Mountain Dew with tonic water? Yeah. That.”
RB: “Smells like Gatorade and tastes like lemon-coconut water… I kinda like it!”
DC: “Not the worst!”
On the label
“Shoot it or mix it. Party tonight, feel great tomorrow. 0 Sugar, Carbs, Calories.”
Ingredient sampling
Vitamins B-1, B02, Niacin, Folate, B-6, B-12, B-5 with a proprietary blend of N-Acetyl Cysteine, Eleuthero Root Extract, Milk thistle extract, Rhodiola rosea extract, Gotu kola extract.
Suggested usage
“Take 1 bottle per 4 drinks. Take before or while drinking.”
Tasting notes
DC: “Oh my god, it looks like acid that would burn through things.”
RB: “Nobody should put this in their mouth. I’d rather be hung over.”
MB: “Tastes like a 3-year-old lollipop found underneath a car mat.”
CT: “Looks like neon urine and smells like Mountain Dew mixed with medicine.”
FA: “What is happening to me?!”
On the label
“Party hard. Recover easy. Take one 2-ounce shot before your night out, and wake up the next morning refreshed and rejuvenated.”
Ingredient sampling
Taurine and blend of extracts of Green tea leaf, Indian gooseberry fruit, Licorice root, Phyllanthus amarus plant, Eclipta plant, Long pepper fruit, Asian ginseng root, Milk thistle seed, Cranberry flavor, Raspberry flavor.
Suggested usage
“Take one bottle before your night out. You may repeat one more serving after your night out. Party responsibly.”
Tasting notes
MB and DC: “Smells like cigar wrappers.”
FA: “This just gets worse, huh?”
RA: “Tastes like bad gummies.”
CT: “ Smells like prunes and sour apple juice. (tastes, coughs) OH GOD WHAT IS THAT?! It burns a little!”
On the label
“Drink healthy. Don’t drink and drive. Not for persons under 21.”
Ingredient sampling
Organic acids, L-Glutamine, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Rhodiola rosea extract, natural flavors.
Suggested usage
“As a dietary supplement after consuming alcohol.”
Tasting notes
MD: “It smells nice and fresh, like cherries. Tastes like burnt rubber, with a weird, acidic finish.”
RB: “Mothball finish.”
DC: “It tastes and smells like a chewed-up aspirin you licked off the bottom of a dirty shoe.”
FA: “I feel like, just…. I’m never going to be happy again.”
30 Minutes later
MD: “Why do I still taste it?!”
MB: “Make it stop.”
FA: “I will only be pleased with this experiment if I become an X-Man.”
1Mercy Hangover Prevention
2Hangover Resqwater
3Never Hungover
4Prefunc
5Forgiven Alcohol Recovery Shot, Tropical Punch Flavor
