I have bought Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey religiously for five (5) years now.  I’m not sponsored by Optimum Nutrition, I don’t market for them, and I’m not getting paid by them to advertise their products.  This is just a genuine review of their products and my personal opinion and reviews of Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey.      

If you are like me, you have tried countless protein powders, protein drinks and protein supplements.  Finding a protein drink that actually tastes good can be quite challenging.  There are so many small companies out there really pushing their products that simply just taste like crap.  So how do you know which ones to buy?  My advice, look for ones that have been around for a while.  Odds are there is a reason they are still around.  With that said, I’m pretty partial when it comes to protein powder.  I pretty much always buy Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey.  All of their flavors are low in carbs and fat (usually right around three (3) grams and one (1) gram respectively) and twenty three (23) grams of protein per scoop.  Optimum Nutrition (ON) also packs 5mg of BCAAs into every scoop.  Why is that important?  Well because not many other protein powders have BCAAs, thus if you are supplementing this, you would have to buy a BCAA supplement separately.  Okay, but you still aren’t convinced.  So why ON 100% Whey?  Well let me tell you.

Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey comes in eighteen (18) flavors and they are always adding more and offering limited time flavors.  Better yet, I’ve yet to find one that I don’t like.  Honestly.  And we all know how harsh some protein powders can be, but I’ve yet to be let down by ON.  ON is where it's at.  Check out my review of each of the flavors I have personally tried and my honest opinion of what I thought of each.      

Okay, my favorite!  By far, hands down.  Everybody has tried either a chocolate or vanilla protein powder, and there are literally thousands of them on the market.  However, I promise you none compare to ON’s Double Rich Chocolate.  It’s perfectly smooth, balanced, and sweet.  I seriously will drink this stuff before any Nestle chocolate drink mix, chocolate syrup, etc.  It’s hands down the best chocolate protein powder you will find.  Don’t believe me.  Just try it!  This is what got me hooked on ON in the first place, and I haven’t bought another protein powder brand since.

• Taste:  10/10
  
• Mixability:  10/10 (just cause it’s my favorite)
  
• Aftertaste:  10/10 
  

You know how most artificially banana flavored products have that really fake, bitter, candy taste?  ON has somehow seemed to minimize that with their Banana Cream Protein.  I’m not saying this shake tastes like you threw bananas and milk in a blender, but it surprisingly has a fresh taste to it, especially when mixed with milk.  

• Taste:  8/10
  
• Mixability:  9/10
  
• Aftertaste:  9/10 
  

If you like chocolate milkshakes, this is the protein powder for you.  Even compared next to their Double Rich Chocolate flavor (my all time favorite), it manages to hold up and provide that malty flavor many prefer.  I will continue to recommend mixing these powders with milk for even more profound flavor.  If you are like me, Chocolate Malt Protein makes for the perfect flavor as a mid-day snack or bedtime shake.  

• Taste:  9/10
  
• Mixability:  9/10
  
• Aftertaste:  9.5/10 
  

Do you like peppermint patties?  Like the ones they give you at restaurants after dinner…ONs Chocolate Mint Protein is one of my favorite protein powders to drink after a snack or even full meal.  The flavor comes across as a darker more intense chocolate taste with that kick of refreshing mint.  This protein powder really does capture those flavors, and it does so well.  That’s really all there is to it.  If you like chocolate mint or peppermint patties, you will love this protein powder.

• Taste:  9.5/10
  
• Mixability:  9/10
  
• Aftertaste:  9.5/10 
  

I wasn’t utterly impressed with Optimum’s Cookies and Cream Protein.  If you are expecting cookies and cream ice cream in a protein shake, well in my opinion, it’s just not there.  The flavor isn’t bad tasting at all; it just doesn’t quite live up to its name.  If you are a cookies and cream buff though, milk does help make the flavor come out a bit more and creates a more creamy shake.  

• Taste:  6/10
  
• Mixability:  9/10
  
• Aftertaste:  9/10 
  

Seriously how many flavors are there?  I told you, a bunch!  I’ve never been a huge strawberry drink fan.  But I while I was dieting not too long ago, I had cravings, and so I bought ON's Delicious Strawberry flavor.  I had read other good reviews and so I figured I’d see for myself.  It was amazing!  Again, I don’t know how they manage to avoid the artificial fruit tastes that so many protein products have, but they do!  I wouldn’t describe the flavor like eating fresh strawberries, but rather like a strawberry cream flavor.  It is a very smooth and creamy flavor.  I would even mix half Strawberry and half Double Rich Chocolate for those indulgent moments.  Chocolate covered strawberries?  No not really, but it is a very good combination.  

• Taste:  9/10
  
• Mixability:  9/10
  
• Aftertaste:  9/10 
  

I know what you’re thinking…does ON's Vanilla Ice Cream Protein really taste like vanilla ice cream?  The short and sweet answer; pretty close!  Definitely closer than any other protein powder attempt at vanilla ice cream that I’ve tried.  I mix it with milk and drink it super cold and seriously goes down almost like a vanilla milk shake (just not as thick).  The only thing is I’ve found myself adding a packet of Equal or Sweet n’ Low to kick up the sweetness just a little more.  I’ve found this brings it even closer to tasting like a milk shake.  

• Taste:  8.5/10
  
• Mixability:  9/10
  
• Aftertaste:  8.5/10