If you’ve been curious to know what my opinions are on Rockstar Energy Drinks, well, here is my review!
Rockstar’s a pretty good energy drink that you can greatly enjoy on occasion. The 160 mg of caffeine is enough to get you going through the day and it’s also beneficial that it’s sugar-free. However, its calorie content also means that it’s more suited for those who live an active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for a more detailed answer, read on to find out all of the ins and outs of the ingredients and other fun bits about Rockstar.
Let’s get started…
Rockstar Energy Drink Nutrition Facts
For starters, let’s take a look at the nutritional content of a Rockstar Energy Drink in comparison to other well-known brands for good measure.
| Typical Values (Per 16 fl oz) | Rockstar | Monster | Red Bull |
| Energy | 122 Calories | 240 Calories | 210 Calories |
| Fat (Of which Saturated) | 0g (0g) | 0g 0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 26g (24g) | 60g (55g) | 56g (52g) |
| Caffeine | 160mg | 160mg | 151mg |
| Protein | 2.0g | 0g | 2.28g |
| Salt | 0.82g | 0.96g | 0.20g |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) | – | – | 0.20mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | – | 3.5mg | 0.54mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 16mg | 43mg | 51.5mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.4 mg | 4.0 mg | 10.7mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.5 µg | 13 µg | 9.6 µg |
I should mention that Red Bull is typically sold in an 8.4fl. oz can, whereas Rockstar and Monster are usually sold in 16 fl. oz cans.
Fun Fact: Red Bull was once banned in France!
How Much Energy Is In A Rockstar?
A 16 fl. oz Rockstar contains 122 calories per serving.
Of course, it’s not just the calorie count that counts in an energy drink, but also caffeine and sugar—especially since caffeine and sugar are the key ingredients that help you stay awake and energised.
Though it doesn’t fit in as many calories as Monster or Red Bull, Rockstar is perfect for when you need a quick burst to finish your work.
As a reminder, the daily recommended caloric intake for healthy adults ranges between 2000 to 2400 calories for women and 2400 to 3000 calories for men.
Be sure to keep that in mind especially if you’re conscious of your diet, and try to keep the Rockstar drinking to only when necessary.
Just because you can technically drink more than 3 of these a day, it really doesn’t mean you should (I’ll explain why further below).
If the moderately high-calorie count of Rockstar seems incompatible with your diet, look here for energy drinks that are suitable for a diet.
Rockstar Energy Drink Ingredients
Now let’s dig deeper into the ingredients in Rockstar.
I’ve listed below the ingredients in a single 16 fl oz can of Rockstar for your reference:
- Carbonated Water
- Sugar (Sucrose)
- Acid (Citric Acid)
- Flavour Enhancer (Erythritol)
- Taurine (0.4%)
- Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrate)
- Flavouring
- Caffeine (0.04%)
- Sweeteners (Sucralose, Acesulfame K)
- Glucuronolactone
- Colours (Caramel E150c, Riboflavin E101)
- Guarana Extract (0.01%)
- Ginseng Extract (0.01%)
- Inositol
- Vitamins (Niacin, B6, B12)
How Much Caffeine is in Rockstar?
A can of Original Rockstar contains 160mg of caffeine per 16 fl oz can.
At 160mg, Rockstar might not be the strongest caffeinated energy drink on the market, but it’s no slouch either. That’s still equivalent to roughly 2 cups of coffee, which is quite a bit for some people.
The FDA recommends that you stick to a maximum caffeine intake of 400mg per day to stay away from the effects of caffeine over-consumption. Having too much caffeine can lead to some pretty bad side effects, such as:
- insomnia
- anxiousness
- increased heart rate
- digestive issues
- nausea
- headaches
I prefer between 50 to 100mg of caffeine per serving. But everyone reacts to caffeine differently, so feel free to experiment and see which is the right amount for you.
How Much Sugar is in Rockstar?
Each 16 fl oz can of Rockstar contains 24g of sugar.
Compared to some well-known energy drink brands, Rockstar isn’t as sugar-filled. Granted it’s not zero sugar, but if you’re looking for something not quite as sweet, Rockstar has that niche covered.
Be aware though, that the AHA advises that the maximum daily sugar intake for men and women is 36g and 25g respectively. While a single can won’t put you over that limit, two definitely will.
In the short-term, intake of sugar leads to a sugar high, which gives you the burst of energy you need to finish your task.
Unfortunately, what goes up must come down and so is the case of sugar high. When your sugar levels fall from the increase, tiredness and lethargy would manifest as a side effect.
This phenomenon of the sugar crash can be read more in-depth here.
Besides that, consuming too much sugar over time can also lead to quite a few health complications, the more notable of which are:
- sugar cravings
- diabetes
- aging skin
- poor dental health
If you’re worried about consuming an excessive amount of sugar through energy drinks, I’ve got you covered with this neat article on the best crash-free energy drinks available.
What Vitamins Are In Rockstar Energy Drink?
Rockstar contains a group of B-Vitamins, notably Niacin (B3), B6 and B12. You can have a more detailed look at what B-Vitamins do here, but here’s a table for your ease of reference:
| Purpose | Amount per 16 fl oz Rockstar Can | Tolerable Upper Intake Level | |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | helps the body release energy keeps skin healthy | 16mg | 35mg |
| Vitamin B6 | store energy from protein and carbohydrates aids in the formation of red blood cells | 1.4mg | 100mg |
| Vitamin B12 | release energy from food forms red blood cells keeps the nervous system healthy | 2.5µg | – |
Does Rockstar Actually Work?
Rockstar definitely works, just like most energy drinks, through the effects of sugar, caffeine, and other ingredients. The sugar gives your cells the energy it needs, whilst the caffeine stops your brain from feeling tired.
While this may sound like a bad thing, keep in mind that there’s sugar in practically everything you eat.
So yes, Rockstar works pretty well as an energy drink. Just be mindful of how much you’ve had so you don’t go too overboard with it in a single day.
How Long Does It Take For Rockstar Energy Drink To Kick In?
It takes at least 10 minutes for Rockstar Energy to kick in.
Expect the energy boost to last for a few hours and get ready for an energy crash as well.
The duration of the “energy drink effects” depends on the body’s metabolism and how physical your workout is. People have varying caffeine metabolism because of genetics, physical activity, and overall health.
What Does Rockstar Taste Like?
With a good balance of flavour, I’ve found the taste of Rockstar to be alright all things considered. It actually tastes pretty similar to Red Bull even if the texture is slightly different.
One thing I particularly liked was that Rockstar doesn’t have an overwhelming sugary sensation, so if you’re like me and are into something with a lighter taste, Rockstar might be for you.
Here’s a quick video of a Rockstar taste test comparison with Monster and Red Bull:
Of course, Original isn’t the only flavour Rockstars come in so you might find something more to your liking if you browse through their selection.
Some flavours of Rockstar include:
- Fruit Punch
- Punched Guava
- Lime Freeze
- Green Apple
- Blueberry
- Grape
If you don’t like the original version of Rockstar, perhaps you’ll like one of the other flavours instead.
Rockstar Energy Drink Review
All things considered, I give Rockstar a solid 8.5 out of 10 overall.
I really like the texture, the flavour is something that works for me and I like that it doesn’t have a really crazy amount of sugar.
Dragging it down is the sugar. I would prefer to see even less. I’m becoming more averse to sugar as time goes on.
Also, in my opinion, Rockstar contains a little too much caffeine in a single can. I would prefer to see something in the range of 50mg – 100mg of caffeine in total.
That’s my opinion and honest review of Rockstar, but you might disagree with me.
Try it for yourself and see if it works for you.
What Are The Side Effects Of Drinking Rockstar?
Drinking too much Rockstar Energy can lead to the following symptoms:
- headaches
- nausea
- insomnia
- rapid heartbeat
- vomiting
- restlessness
If you suffer from the following symptoms, stop consuming Rockstar. Drink plenty of fluids, take a walk, and wait it out.
Is It Bad To Drink 2 Rockstars a Day?
At two Rockstars a day, your body is probably pushing the limit of what is considered a ‘healthy’ energy drink consumption given the overall ingredients.
It’s not so much the caffeine but the sugar content that I find concerning.
While it isn’t as high as some other energy drinks, two cans of Rockstar will still put you over the AHA’s daily recommendations.
While it’s perfectly fine to have 2 Rockstars occasionally, it’s best you don’t do that on a daily basis. Remember, energy drinks are best had in moderation, and having too many in a short time would really dampen the effect.
Personally, I feel that even if you stick to 1 Rockstar a day, you should have the energy and concentration you need to get you through your daily routine.
If you ever want to know what happens if you only drink energy drinks though, have a look at the video below:
How Much is a Rockstar Energy Drink?
One 16 fl oz can of Rockstar usually runs you about $2 without shipping fees. If you’re ordering overseas, it might cost you a bit more.
Rockstar is actually decent value for money all things considered and is pretty worth its price. I do have a full guide detailing energy drink prices against their ingredients and caffeine content, so feel free to check that out for all the info.
Rockstar Energy Drink Varieties
If you are someone who loves switching up flavours, you will be happy to know that there are many varieties of Rockstar Energy Drinks to choose from.
Some of them include:
- Rockstar Sugar-Free (Orignal Sugar-Free Mix)
- Rockstar Recovery Series (Non-carbonated with only 10 calories)
- Rockstar Pure Zero (No Sugar)
- Rockstar Thermo (1000 mg of BCAA and 300 mg of caffeine)
- Rockstar Xdurance (300 mg of caffeine with various flavours)
- Rockstar Juiced ( 20 Calories)
Rockstar Energy Drink Alternatives
If Rockstar isn’t your thing, don’t worry ’cause there are tons of other energy drink alternatives out there.
Here’s a quick list below to get you started:
Prefer your energy drinks in smaller doses? Powdered energy drinks allow you to fine-tune your energy drink servings to perfectly suit your needs.
Here are some I recommend:
- Zipfizz
- Advocare Spark
- Gfuel
- REIZE
REIZE Energy Drink (10 out of 10)
Alright maybe you really like Rockstar, but have you heard of REIZE?
REIZE is a powdered energy drink, where a 4g sachet of REIZE contains a sensible 50mg of caffeine and is totally sugar-free, with only 11 calories per drink.
It also contains a bunch of other great ingredients such as taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins. All of which provide you with a great energy boost without the dreaded crash afterwards.
The best thing about REIZE?
It ships to your door for only about $1 per drink.
That’s incredible value for money.
Try REIZE today, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it’s a smarter choice than Rockstar.
Other Articles
- Energy Drinks: Addictive or Not? (Facts)
- When Do Energy Drinks Kick In? (Precise Timing)
- Best Energy Drinks To Stay Awake While Driving
- How Much Caffeine Should You Have a Day? (Facts)