What Is The X-Factor?

I’ve given up trying to keep track of Gatorade’s flavors.  When Sarah goes to the grocery store I just specify a color, such as “reddish.”

This week’s reddish is part of Gatorade’s “X-Factor” line of flavors.  According to the label, the bottle sitting in front of me contains a combination of Fruit Punch and Berry.  I wouldn’t have minded if their original “Fruit Punch” flavor had contained some form of “Berry,” but whatever.  Today I’m getting both fruit and berries.

On the side of the bottle, Gatorade provides this definition for “X-Factor”:

WHAT IS THE X-FACTOR?  IT’S THE EXTRA EDGE IN YOUR GAME THAT TURNS UP WHEN NO ONE ELSE EXPECTS IT.  WHEN IT COMES TO GATORADE, IT’S THE FLAVORS YOU KNOW WITH AN ADDED TASTE OF THE UNEXPECTED.  (ALL CAPS THEIRS.)

This merits some parsing.

It’s the extra edge in your game… — The word “your” is flattering.  Thank you Gatorade!  Now, I don’t actually have game, but if I did, I would like it to have many edges, plus one more edge than in everyone else’s game.  We’d call this additional edge the extra edge.

…that turns up… — The edges in games are apparently the type of thing that can “turn up.”  A key part of my game, had I one, would be to avoid tripping on other people’s turned-up edges.  In fact, perhaps this could be my extra edge.

…when no one else expects it. —  X-Factor is a sports term and, as Gatorade is defining it for us here, it’s related to surprise.  We know about the extra edge in our game (and its propensity to turn up), but no one else has figured it out yet.  So, I have game!  And it is edgy!  And it is sneaky!  But what’s this have to do with the saline beverage sitting in front of me?

When it comes to Gatorade… — Cool, we’re going to see how our edginess applies to Gatorade. 

…it’s the flavors you know… — I know fruit and I know berry, so: cool, still with you.

…with an added taste of the unexpected. —  And now you’ve lost me.  Is the “Berry” part of this drink the “unexpected” part?  Because it says “Berry” on the label, so, you know: expected that.  Or is there a third, mystery flavor at play?  I don’t really want mystery flavors in my drinks.  Just because I have game (note: I don’t) with more edges than other people doesn’t mean I want to be surprised by my sports drink. 

But in any case, allow me to take a stab at the mystery flavor in this particular bottle.  Is it… salt?