The Wrigley Three

When you think of chewing gum (if you think of chewing gum, which, since you're here, I assume you do to an inordinate degree) one name should comee to the front of your mind: Wrigley. It is thanks solely to William Wrigley Jr. that the words "chewing gum" and "magnate" could conceivably be combined. So, to inaugurate The Latest Chews, my first reviews will be of the Wrigley Three: Doublemint, Juicy Fruit, and Big Red. We salute you, Mr. Wrigley!

Wrigley's Doublemint Gum
Stick
Taste: Why not stick with a classic? And indeed, this venerable gum comes by such a title honestly. As the grandpappy of all mint gums, doublemint doesn't promise to scrub your mouth dentist-clean or ice blast your bad breath into next Tuesday; it just delivers straight peppermint/spearmint flavor, warm and natural. It's not sugary or embellished, and is difficult to get tired of. Like most mint gums, while the flavor weakens over time, it never really is lost.
Texture: A paradigm of proper gum texture, Wrigley's doublemint is smooth and soft, with good substance and springiness and ideal elasticity, but without being rubbery.
Final Notes: Simple, tasty, long-lasting, and with a great jingle to boot, it's no wonder doublemint is such an American standard. There's a good chewing amount in each serving, too. In short, if you're going to be on a desert island with only one package of mint gum, make it a plen-t-pak of this.
Rating: 9/10

Wrigley's Juicy Fruit
Stick
Taste: Juicy Fruit is nearly as much of a classic as doublemint, although the result is not nearly so fortunate. Despite the name, there is nothing particularly fruity about this gum. Its flavor is pretty much regular bubblegum, which is to say it mostly tastes of sugar. The flavor all but disappears in about twenty minutes.
Texture: If Doublemint is a hit, Juicy Fruit is a miss. Maybe because of the gum's high sugar content, the consistency is soft and sloppy, particularly at first. Yet it also has 'overeager' elasticity, to the point of rubberiness--I almost expect my teeth to squeak on it.
Final Notes: The one cool thing about Juicy Fruit is the fact that it's bright yellow. If cheerily colored gum is important to you, this is an inexpensive winner. While the bubblegum flavor is available in more appetizing gums (with which you can actually blow bubbles), it's worth noting that once the flavoring is gone, the taste is simply neutral with no gross aftertaste, which is good if you're in it for the inattentive long haul.
Rating: 3/10

Wrigley's Big Red
Stick
Taste: The cinnamon gum for people who don't like cinnamon (like me), Big Red is pleasantly spicy without raw, mouth-blistering heat. The spicyness actually comes through as a flavor--it does not cause pain or injury and will never be the subject of a double-dog-dare. Like with mint gum, while the flavor dissipates with time, the sensation remains nearly as long as you chew it.
Texture: Presumably because it's based on a natural flavoring element iinstead of artificial flavorings or sugar, the texture is identical to that of Doublemint and is just as pleasurable a chew.
Final Notes: Some like it hot, and some like it cold. For those who don't want a cool minty gum for their desert island, Big Red is just as reliable a standard with a different taste sensation. Plus, if you cut shapes out of the foil wrappers, lick them, and stick them to your cheek, you can adorn yourself with dermal irritation beauty marks!
Rating: 8/10