By itself this tastes straight up like a cheap but decent enough grape soda with a swig of cheap brandy. For the price the experience isn't half bad but the major problem is how sweet it is. I wouldn't say it's immediately cloying but after a few sips, depending on your sugar tolerance, it will be. For me, it's tolerable. I was able to finish my first can without diluting it but it was rough. Especially with the cheapness of the materials I didn't feel too incentivized to finish it. I found that diluting it with some mineral water did wonders. It got rid of the cognac taste but made it taste just like a grape soda I could chug. With two shots in a can, I'll take it. Ultimately Purple Crush Monaco is an acceptable but overly sugary way to get a cheap buzz on. With more sophisticated RTD's on the market providing 13%+ for just a few bucks more and the weaker Monaco offerings appear in trouble. Whereas I'd still get the Mango Peach and Lime Margarita Monaco flavors now and again, I'm less inclined to get this flavor. I'd say it's mainly for fans of grape soda or those willing to chug a beverage to get a quick buzz on. This is drinkable but not something you want to savor.