"Rockstar was founded in 2001 in America and instantly revolutionised the Energy Drink Category by introducing the first ever "Double size * Double kick" Energy Drink. With over a BILLION cans sold, Rockstar's premium blends containing the finest herbs and vitamins stacked with a potent kick has established a loyal fan base worldwide. Rockstar spent 2 years preparing for its launch into Europe which stemmed from an overwhelming demand for our range of products. So it's official! Rockstar is now available in the U.K!" Rockstar69.com
Rock Star is a great new energy drink, much like Red Bull, and it boasts that it is 'the world's most powerful energy drink'. Upon entering their website http://www.rockstar69.com I realise just how huge this is in the USA. It has a great image and I think it is going to do very well over here, once it really takes off. ROCKSTAR.com has a fantastic website and one which you need Flash 9 to appreciate it in full. It lists all of the flavours and varieties available currently in the USA.
Rockstar has recently entered the UK after a two year wait, to see how well the British public will receive America's biggest selling energy drink brand. So what exactly is ROCKSTAR? And more to the point, will we like it?-
The product is very cleverly designed, and when we purchased some last week, it was the design that caught my eye, and also it was the deciding factor when I bought it. Rockstar Original comes in a jet black ring-pull can weighing 500ml. Stating this is 'Double size-Double Kick' This is quite a large size and I believe they may be bringing out a smaller size over here soon. To the front in large gold writing is 'ROCKSTAR', written in gold, with a gold star where the 'A' should be, and energy drink written in bright red lettering. Below this there is a large gold star with the RR back to back in the centre of the can. It has big writing of energy drink running down the side in bright red with ROCK STAR in gold bubble writing vertically alongside this.
Everything else written is picked out in red and gold. With a red ring-pull set against the gold top. The reason I have gone into so much detail with the can is because it is so just so stylish and it was the design that made me want to own it. Ah the power of product image. I love the black can with the large gold star, and I love the name ROCKSTAR in its large gold letters. I can see this in my hand when I go down to the Brighton seafront this summer in the sweltering sunshine, and I don't think I will be the only one. I can see this being big over here...Very big!
At the moment Tesco are doing 'Buy one get one free', and as the normal price for a 5oo ml can of Rockstar is 51p per can this is a great deal. We have stocked our fridge up nicely!
-The ingredients-
Well being an energy drink you just know it is going to contain 'Caffeine', and it does. It also contains: Guarana - Ginseng - B.Vitamins - Taurine -. It states it has a 'HIGH Caffeine Content' of 32mg/100ml, and it states: IT IS NOT SUITABLE for children, pregnant or breast feeding women or individuals sensitive to caffeine, and it advises to consume Rockstar responsibly. Some of the other ingredients are: Sucrose - Glucose - Caramel - Riboflavin and Beta Carotene. There are also some E numbers contained within this drink, being: E160A & E150C -
-E160A-
This E number is used quite a bit in the production of food and soft drinks. Notably in milk products, butter, and soft margarines; also in coffee sponges and soft drinks. It is extracted from carrots, or commercially manufactured and it converts into vitamin A when inside the body. The use of gelatine may be used by some manufacturers so therefore such product would not be suitable for vegetarians.
-E150C-
This dark brown colouring is made by the controlled heat treatment of sugar with ammonia. This colouring is to be found in vinegar, gravy browning, whisky, sweets, glucose tablets, pancakes and in soft drinks particularly carbonated colas. It is possible that the sugar used in the production of this colour may have come from a genetically modified crop.-
-The taste-
The taste is extraordinary, that's another thing I really like about it. Most of the energy drinks that I have tried have a very sugary taste to them such as Red Bull, Relentless or Kick, all being very sweet energy drinks. This however is not overly sweet. It is slightly fizzy and bright yellow in colour. The strongest flavour of all to hit me on first tasting is that of bubble gum for some reason. It's a really nice kind of strawberry Hubba Bubba flavour, but without the sweetness. I can also taste the guarana and this is really very pleasant. Rockstar has a kind of herbal tang to it also, it is a very unusual flavour but it is easily drinkable and is thirst quenching also. Served ice-cold is the best way to consume it and if in a glass, with lots of ice cubes also.
Normally I find these energy drinks quite hard to 'down' as I have found that they have quite a sweet and slightly medicinal flavour to them, however with Rockstar I find I can drink it in the same way I would lemonade, or a similar soft drink. Now I'm not so sure that that is a good thing as you do have to watch your intake of these energy drinks. Being high in caffeine content, too much could result in 'the jitters'; a condition associated with too high a consumption of caffeine. Also too much guarana can cause Jitters, along with nervousness, rapid pulse and abdominal pain.
Guarana should also be avoided by anyone who suffers with high blood pressure or anyone who is on anticoagulant drugs or a sufferer of irregular heartbeats. It should also not be taken by expectant mothers or a mother who is nursing. Guarana combined with taurine and caffeine can in the severe case contribute to the onset of seizures if taken in excessive amounts. So basically any energy drink taken in moderate doses its fine, but not drunk in excess, as this is not the way that energy drinks are intended for use. They are intended for a quick 'kick' of energy and this particular brand is double the size of our regular energy products, so on drinking, you will receive' Double the kick'. -
-The Rockstar website-
There is a fantastic website for Rockstar at www.rockstar69.com. Upon entering the very colourful site scroll down to the bottom right hand side of the page there is a drop down to 'Select a Country' which will take you to the UK Rockstar site. The UK site is brilliant with lots of information about the product, upcoming rock festivals and concerts. At present they are running an 'Angels and Airwaves' competition, there is information on the 'Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival'. They have a Rockstar model entry form, and they use non models for many of there promotional events and advertising; and so much more. It is a brilliant, informative and colourful site, and a lot of fun.-
-The variety of flavours-
At present Rockstar has introduced three varieties into the UK. These are: 'ROCKSTAR Original' which comes in the black/gold and red can. The second variety is: 'ROCKSTAR Juiced Mango' which is distinguishable by its bright orange and gold can. The third is: 'ROCKSTAR Sugar Free' which comes in a white and gold can.-
-Rockstar Original-
"Bigger. Better. Faster. Stronger. ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, and Ginseng, ROCKSTAR is scientifically formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles-from athletes to rock stars. Enjoy this fully refreshing lightly carbonated beverage super chillled." Rockstar.co.uk
-Rockstar Juiced Mango-
JUICED MANGO' is choc full of the original ROCKSTAR ingredients with a unique blend full of great tasting, all natural, apple, Pear, orange, mango and passion fruit and It contains 5O% pure juice concentrate. Juiced Mango is specially created to give an enormous kick of energy for people who lead busy and gruelling lives'. It is lightly carbonated and delicious and like most drinks, best served chilled, and it promises to deliver 100% energy. -
This particular variety I feel contains an alarming amount of E numbers being: E445 - E955 - E414 - E33O - E440 - E160 - E950 -
-Rockstar sugar free-
ROCKSTAR without the sugar basically. Sugar Free has the same great taste but without the sugar. It still has all the same ingredients that the Original RockStar possesses. Being: Taurine- Ginseng - Ginkgo, and Guarana. Once again this variety is very high in E content. The sugar is replaced with artificial sweeteners of sucralose E995 & Acesulfame K E950. - E numbers: E150C - E100 - E950 - E100 - E331 - E160.-
-Summary-
Well if you can get past all the E numbers without flinching, then this is a great drink. It packs a mean punch and definitely gives a real energy boost. It's bound to though, being a 500 ml size. It really has got a terrific flavour and knocks spots off Red Bull as far as I am concerned. It doesn't have that nasty sweetness or slight medicinal flavour that the other energy drinks have. It has a really good drinkable flavour, it's very palatable. It goes down easily; a little too easily as far as I am concerned. It is a really pleasant easy to drink beverage. It's refreshing, has an interesting flavour, looks cool in the hand, and it looks like this is set to be a sure fire winner here in the UK. Recommend it? Not too sure with all those E numbers in it. But one thing I will say is that one every now and then won't do you any harm...Well I hope not. -
www.rockstar69.com
Summary: A trendy energy drink with a big kick.