How much caffeine is in Rockstar Original?

Rockstar Original has 160 mg of caffeine in a 16 fl oz can (10 mg per fluid ounce). That's about as much as 1.5 cups of brewed coffee (8 oz each, about 95 mg per cup), 40% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for healthy adults. It ranks #145 for caffeine among the 264 drinks we've rated.

Is Rockstar Original good?

The Sharks give Rockstar Original a Shark Score of 40 (Mediocre: “Keep walking.”), ranking it #244 of 264. The short version: “A very average energy drink used for a quick pick-me-up. Cheap and ubiquitous, but nothing to write home about.”

What is the best Rockstar flavor?

Of the 11 Rockstar drinks we've rated, the best is Rockstar Juiced Island-Mango (91). Rockstar Original ranks #9. The lowest-rated is Rockstar XDurance Cotton Candy (11). See every Rockstar flavor ranked.

Rockstar Original Review: 160 mg Caffeine, Scored 40/100

Rockstar Original

Mediocre · Keep walking.

Ranked #244 of 264 drinks · #9 of 11 Rockstar

160 mgCaffeine

16 ozCan size

10mg per oz · Strong

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Introduction

Rockstar reminds me of college as it completely encapsulates the essence of my college life. It was easy to access, by far the cheapest option, and gave sort of a kick that would keep you alert for at least a couple of hours. There was always a definite crash, but that’s when you have another one and the cycle continues. I personally associate Rockstar with having a good time and keeping me revved up when I need it. Even though the caffeine content is the same as most other standard energy drinks at 160mg/can (or 10mg/floz), it definitely delivers more of a bite.

Upside

Rockstar can be obtained at pretty much every gas station or 711 out there. As I said earlier, it was always significantly cheaper for me than the other brand names in college. If you want a kick to stay awake, chug one of these babies and it will do the trick (especially if you get one of the 240mg cans, but that’s a different review). It is relatively sweet, smooth, and I enjoy the flavor, but it falls short in all three categories when compared to the other name brands. I enjoy Rockstar enough to get it repeatedly when it is available for a low price, but it has never been something I am really looking forward to drinking.

Downside

Rockstar is everywhere and everyone has heard of it, but there is a reason that it is not as popular as Monster or Red Bull despite its ubiquity. It always seems to sit a tier below the others for many reasons. The taste is sweet, but it is not as sweet or flavorful as Monster. It is relatively smooth, but not as smooth as NOS. There has always been a crash for me after drinking these, even though they have what I consider to be an average caffeine content. The crash is usually due to more sugar in combination with the caffeine, but this crash seems more severe than other beverages with similar qualities. The appearance is quite mediocre to me as well, and the brand name Rockstar definitely does not have the same recognition as that of Red Bull. I am doing a lot of comparing here to demonstrate why Rockstar, although still a fine option, sits a tier below the others to me.

Upshot

If Rockstar is your beverage of choice, I would recommend the 240mg can to keep you buzzing. If using it to stay alert, you may as well give yourself that extra 50% boost of caffeine. I rate it a 5/10 because while it does the job of keeping you energized (hence “energy drink”), it sits a tier below the others in terms of overall quality to me. If you want a cheap drink to keep you going, Rockstar is a fine choice. If you are drinking for leisure or want a seemingly high quality beverage, I would look elsewhere.

Appearance

Let me be clear, the Rockstar Original can is no stunner. However, being the “Original” it certainly makes a case for understated graphics. The design is simple, with a black background and giant star, but manages to still catch eye with bright accents and styled fonts. While not the most likely to catch your eye on the shelf, it has an aesthetically pleasing design that satisfies this consumer.

Taste

Warning: this is where the majority of my gripes with this product lie. Rockstar Original, in theory, should have a classic taste that is worthy of spawning many variants. I was disappointed to find the product neither sweet nor flavorful. The 16 oz. can has 64g of sugar, which seemed to make the drink feel sweet without making it delicious in any sense. The flavor I can best describe as the syrup for an almost bitter knockoff cola. The aftertaste was unsatisfying at best, and only my desire for caffeine encouraged me to continue sipping. I didn’t find the drink refreshing or particularly satisfying. Are there worse drinks out there? Surely. Regardless, I expect more from the “Original” flavor of a successful line of drinks.

Kick

The initial kick from carbonation and flavor had a minimal impact. However, the 160mg of caffeine in the can made itself known fairly quickly. Each individual’s desired kick is highly subjective. If you enjoy the immediate and impact of the caffeine and sugar, this could be the drink for you. I found it to be overwhelming and didn’t positively contribute to the enjoyment of the beverage. A more substantial initial kick would have been preferred, perhaps that could be blamed on the flavor.

Overall

As hinted in the Taste section, I am disappointed in the Rockstar Original. Far and away, the taste is the biggest flaw with the product. An aesthetically pleasing can and high caffeine content do not redeem the shortcomings in flavor. Add high sugar content to the equation and you are left with a drink that doesn’t particularly satisfy you or make you feel good. For all its shortcomings it is not the worst beverage on the market. Regardless, I certainly feel that there are better options on the market.

Rockstar Original

Your score

The Sharks’ verdict

Cam’s full review