We usually drink energy drinks before our morning workouts or just to power us through the day. But when the night comes, it’s time for the alcohol—and the fun times!
But the fun doesn’t end there. Though it’s not as popular as other mixed drinks, people actually combine energy drinks and alcohol into one cocktail that can be enjoyed during a night out with friends.
Energy drink cocktails actually don’t stray far from other types of beverages since they can be as colourful and as tasty as any different order from your bar of choice.
In this article, I’ll be exploring all the fun twists you can have with energy drink cocktails and how you can consume them safely!
Grab your pens and paper, and let’s go!
What is an Energy Drink Cocktail?
To put it simply, an energy drink cocktail is a mixed drink that combines the flavours and nutrients of both energy drinks and alcohol. It’s mainly filled with caffeine, ethanol, and sweeteners.
Energy drink cocktails primarily exist to provide leisure and a brand-new set of flavours for alcohol enthusiasts. It’s not made to energise nor be a nutritious product.
In fact, people mainly enjoy energy drink cocktails because it gives them the best of both worlds: the alertness brought by energy drinks nullifies the sluggishness of alcohol.
However, energy drink cocktails are not without controversy. The combination can become dangerous because it can trick you into thinking that you’re not drinking much alcohol.
How Much Alcohol is in an ED Cocktail?
The alcohol content of an energy drink cocktail largely depends on the mixer or bartender themselves since there are tons of recipes to choose from.
To be more specific, the alcohol by volume (ABV) is the one you should keep a close eye on since they determine the exact measurements of your booze of choice.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) stated that a total of 0.6 ounces can be found in a standard bottle or can of alcohol which can equate to:
- a bottle with 5% ABV
- malt liquor with 7% ABV
- wine with 12% ABV
- a shot of hard liquor at 40% ABV
You should also monitor your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) before it exceeds its safe level of 0.08 as it can easily escalate to alcohol poisoning if left unattended. Meanwhile, it’s fatal to have a BAC of 0.40 and up.
What Alcohol Mixes Well with Energy Drinks?
The first on the list is the so-called safest alcoholic drink which is Dry Wine. This fermented beverage is guaranteed to help sweeten your drink while ensuring that it doesn’t overpower the energy drink and other additional ingredients as well.
Vodka is also a crowd favourite with an alcoholic content of 40-55. It’s a distilled alcoholic beverage associated with Russia and other Nordic countries such as Sweden. Vodka can be quite strong, and once blended into the cocktail, combines really well with the sweetness of energy drinks.
A nice bottle of Gin can’t also miss this list as it’s the most prominent alcohol for mixing. With this product coming from Juniper berries, it’s definitely more flavourful than vodka though they contain the same alcoholic content.
Beers, on the other hand, can be a hit or miss for energy drink cocktails as they have distinct flavours for every brand. You can try to mix and match and add more ingredients to satisfy your taste buds in the process.
Energy Drink Cocktails Sugar & Caffeine Content
Truth be told, energy drink cocktails vary in sugar and caffeine content since not all brands have the exact serving sizes in the first place. However, it would help if you still regulated your intake despite having a good time during the weekends.
The AHA recommends that women must only consume 25 grams of sugar while men should settle for no more than 36 grams.
Many short-term and long-term problems arise when people go over the daily recommended intake, one of the most prominent occurrences is dehydration.
Studies show that too much sugar can cause low energy, frequent mood shifts, and increased sleeping tendencies. Long-term effects then include coronary heart diseases, diabetes, skin problems, and even sugar addiction.
On the other hand, caffeine is quite controversial when paired with alcohol as it can cancel out the antidepressant effects of fermented beverages and replace them with alertness and even sudden mood shifts. This can result in accidents seeing that individuals feel like they aren’t drunk even though they are beyond intoxicated.
It’s also worth mentioning that the FDA has advised individuals to limit their daily caffeine intake to 400mg as going beyond it can cause more health problems than benefits. This can include anxiety, depression, and irregular heartbeats.
Too much caffeine can also lead to substance dependency which the majority leads to a full-blown addiction. This is why even though your body can take the number of things you are putting in it, it doesn’t mean you have to abuse it, especially when alcohol is involved.
Alcohol Overdose
Since cocktails do contain alcohol most of the time, it’s important to discuss the limitations of alcohol consumption.
It’s important to remember that consuming 30 standard drinks or more in one sitting is lethal. That will equate to more than five drinks being downed in just two hours.
A person may need medical attention to avoid experiencing acute alcohol poisoning if the concentration of this substance in their system surpasses 300 milligrams. Other negative effects include seizures, inability to stay awake, vomiting, and more if you drink too much.
The Best Energy Drink Cocktails
If you feel like a million dollars and have what it takes to walk among the giants of society, then it may just be your first drink to try. Here are samples of energy drinks and cocktails you can make.
You’re going to need at least the following items to make yourself a glass or two:
| Name of Cocktail | Ingredients | What Does it Do? |
| Calabasas Cooler | 2 oz of Jäger 4 oz of Monster Rum, mango flavour | This drink will certainly hop you up. |
| Cosmic Slushie | 1/4 oz Lime juice 1/2 oz Triple sec 2 oz Vodka2 oz Red bull Lime Wheel | This drink is perfect for serving at a pool party or barbecue on a hot summer’s day. |
| Monstermeister | What Does It Do? | It’s a sweet yet dangerous drink that may have you partying like the Ancient Greeks on a random Tuesday! |
| The Lochness Monster | 1 oz Vodka 1 oz Gin 1 oz Light Rum 1 oz Southern comfort black label peach schnapps 1 oz Captain Morgan spiced rum 1 oz Jose Cuervo Gold tequila 1 oz Malibu coconut rum 1 oz Monster Liqueurs: 1 oz Chambord Raspberry 1 oz Midori melon 1 oz blue curacao | One of the most potent mixes thus far. This drink is not for the faint of heart, much less for those who are not looking to blackout within the next hour. |
Is going original your style? You can also add more ingredients if you’re feeling a little naughty! There’s not much to say but relish in the most original energy drink cocktail you can ever find in the market.
Energy Drinks for Hangovers
You’re always bound to feel below the weather after a night of fun. That’s why it’s important to get yourself something to ease the throbbing headache and other pesky effects.
Here’s a list of energy drinks, minus the alcohol and whatnot, to get you ready for the day!
Zipfizz
Get yourself a small tub of water and mix in the contents of Zipfizz straight out of its small tube. It’s not as sweet as other energy drinks and contains many vitamins and minerals, effectively replacing what you lost at the party.
Its electrolytes also ensure that your body is finally rehydrated after the relapses hours ago while nudging you awake with 100mg of caffeine. It can effectively make you feel a whole lot better compared to just sleeping away from regrets.
If you’re looking for a functional and healthy energy drink for your after-party, then Zipfizz is ready to help you.
Red Bull
Out of all the energy drink brands, Red Bull doesn’t disappoint. No wonder it’s the king of energy drinks.
Its 8.4 fl. oz is just enough to shake the hangover away. The 80mg of caffeine also won’t be much given that it’s just like drinking a cup of coffee anyways.
Despite the calories, your body gets to receive some much-needed nutrients.
REIZE (Highly Recommended!)
Of course, REIZE is the most ideal energy drink for a pick-me-up after a long night.
This 4g sachet is filled with the necessary vitamins and minerals such as Taurine, Ginseng, and the B-Vitamins to ensure you get to replace most if not all, nutrients you lost.
Its caffeine of 50mg also won’t be too much of a headache since it’s on the lower side of the caffeine scale. The drink is sugar-free and low-calorie too, so it won’t aggravate your hangover.
REIZE is also very easy and quick to mix! Just open the sachet and add the powder to some water and you’re good to go. Very handy if you’re feeling groggy and lazy the day after, right?
REIZE retails for only around $1 and you can have it shipped right to your door! I highly recommend that you try it today and see the results for yourself.
Other Must-try Brands
You can also check out these brands:
Judgment
Energy drink cocktails can be an interesting concoction to try, especially if you’re out letting your hair down. However, I strongly advise you to consume them with caution.
While the combination can elevate your mood and null alcohol’s side effects, you can easily get caught up and drink more than you can handle. This can put you at risk for alcohol overdose and even accidents.
Not to mention, the cocktails contain caffeine too and it has a whole other list of side effects. All in all, energy drink cocktails can become quite dangerous beverages.
Always keep in mind that these cocktails are not meant to be drunk before or after a workout, nor does it contribute much nutritional content to your body.
So have fun and take care!