Bartisans: Alexander of Chinese Energy Drink Go Player

For this month's Bartisans we talk with Alexander, who does marketing, promotions, sales and “everything else” for Chinese energy drink Go Player

— How is Go Player different from, say, Red Bull?

Chinese Red Bull [that comes in short, gold cans] is not connected to International Red Bull [the tall, skinny cans found in the West]. International Red Bull failed in China last year because Chinese customers didn’t really like it. It’s too fizzy, and the smell of taurine is too strong. So for Go Player, we made it in the middle – it’s less fizzy than International Red Bull, but also less sweet than Chinese Red Bull.

—Go Player doesn’t have caffeine. So what gives you energy?  

Taurine – the essence from bulls’ sperm! But ours isn’t real bull semen – that hasn’t been used in energy drinks since the original Thai Red Bull was first started. But taurine is our main energy source, as well as guarana, a Brazilian berry that has a lot of energy, as well as vitamins B6 and B3.

—Do you drink Go Player straight, or can you mix it in cocktails?

We have almost 40 recipes for cocktails! We have so many – Mojito player, expresso player, screwdriver player… You can try some of them in Janes & Hooch.

—Why create an energy drink in China? 

If we don’t do it, Monster will come to China someday. Other international energy drinks will come to China someday. But right now, we don’t have too many competitors. We are the first in China that’s a real 
energy drink.

Go Player is available at venues throughout the city, including Spark, Halo, Hush, Boombar, Mix, Janes & Hooch and Cheers