My childhood best friend was a ketchup fiend. She would squeeze copious amounts of the condiment on eggs, mac and cheese, toast, and green beans. She ate a ketchup and bologna sandwich every single day for lunch.

So when I learned that Smoothie King was launching a collab drink featuring Heinz ketchup in select cities—one of them being Denver—I knew I needed to get my hands on one so I could report back to her. Was this her dream come true or would I, perhaps, discover something that ketchup actually didn’t improve? And more importantly, should every Denverite book it to Smoothie King before it’s gone?

Here’s What You Need To Know

The bizarre bevvie hit blenders on August 6 in Denver, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York. The company chose the Mile High City because it’s a growing market, according to a spokesperson, who added that there’s been so much interest in it that Smoothie King could add it to all store menus. Although the star ingredient sounds alarming, the ketchup is complemented by acai sorbet, apple juice, strawberries, and raspberries. The smoothie is only offered in a 20-ounce cup, and it costs $5.70 (a nod to Heinz’s 57 sauce).

My quest for a ketchup smoothie sent me to the suburbs, where the nearest Smoothie King is located. For some reason, asking for a ketchup smoothie felt akin to inquiring where the hemorrhoid cream is at the grocery store, so I placed my order in a whisper. My unease wasn’t assuaged when the customer behind me said, “Ew, is that ketchup?” But, the cashier at the Washington Virginia Vale store gave me a reassuring smile and said, “It’s not too ketchupy.” (“Well I definitely don’t want that,” the man behind me added for good measure.)

No matter, I wasn’t going to let this stranger yuck my yum (mostly because I thought the smoothie would handle that). The cashier slid my drink across the counter and poured some of the leftover maroon mixture into a sample cup for me to take as well. On my way out, I offered the extra to the opinionated stranger, which he reluctantly accepted and took a sip.

The Verdict

I’ll be frank: The Heinz Tomato Ketchup Smoothie was much better than I expected. As a casual ketchup consumer, I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about this condiment making its way to my breakfast sipper. I don’t enjoy bloody marys, and I’m a firm believer that ketchup is meant for dipping, not drinking. But since there’s only a single scoop of the sauce, it’s drowned out by the berries and acai sorbet. I didn’t taste any tomato at first; but after a few sips, I noticed a tangy aftertaste. If a typical fruit smoothie is a little too sweet for your taste buds, perhaps you’ll appreciate the subtle tartness of the tomato.

Most of my coworkers were too chicken to try it, but one brave soul gave it a solid seven out of 10. In fact, she said that if it didn’t have the Heinz label on the cup, she might not even realize it had ketchup in it. Another popped the lid off, gave it a sniff, and declared she couldn’t smell the tomato.

And what did the customer with unsolicited opinions and a superior palate have to say about the smoothie? “Huh, that’s pretty good.”

You can find the Heinz Tomato Ketchup Smoothie at Smoothie King stores throughout the Denver metro area. There is no timeline for when the run will end, but it is considered a limited release.