When that 3 p.m. slump hits, you need something that will keep you from taking yet another desk nap (your boss told us she’s getting annoyed). That’s where the best energy drink comes in. We tasted a lot of energy drinks in 2023—some new, some not so new—but a couple really stood out above the rest. Now, we can’t tell you which energy drink will make your workout more effective or jumpstart your metabolism or give you the ability to punch god, but we can tell you the best tasting energy drink we tried in our taste tests this year. Here’s the best energy drink and a runner up for good measure.
When I taste tested and ranked every Ghost energy drink flavor, I will admit that this wasn’t my favorite—but it’s the one that stayed with me the most because it’s just so accurate. If you’ve ever had a big ol’ juicy piece of that obnoxiously blue Bubblicious cotton candy gum, you know exactly what this tastes like. And the sparkle of the drink makes it refreshing instead of overpowering. This is not an energy drink I would drink every day, but if you’re in the mood for something fun and nostalgic, buy this.
There’s a lot to love about Celsius energy drinks (I should know; I tasted and ranked every single flavor). They aren’t loaded with sugar. They come in a lot of flavors. Their carbonation is light and tingly. They claim to burn body fat, and luckily I will believe pretty much anything a beverage can tells me. As I said, I can’t vouch for the drink’s overall efficacy—there are scientists and trials for that—but I can tell you that this drink tastes very good. Celsius released a number of “Vibe” flavors this year, but this was our favorite. It’s tangy and tasty and refreshing—it tastes kind of like a canned Margarita with a little extra oomph, and we love that. Most Celsius flavors are good, but this one really put a pep in our step.
Howdy! I’m Gwynedd, Sporked’s managing editor. I live in Los Angeles and have access to the best tacos the U.S. has to offer—but I’m a sucker for a crunchy Old El Paso taco night every now and then. I’ve been at Sporked since 2022 and I’m still searching frozen mozzarella sticks that can hold a candle to restaurant sticks.
Why you should trust me: I’ve been a journalist for 20 years (yikes), a consumer of food for 40-plus years, and I’m truly hard pressed to think of foods I don’t like (or that I can’t tolerate at the very least). Oh and one time I cooked my way through Guy Fieri’s cookbook and wrote about the journey through Flavortown.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s Original Savory Thins. Fat free plain yogurt (usually Fage or Nancy’s). Honeycrisp apples. Sweet cream coffee creamer for my at-home Americanos. A frozen cauliflower crust pizza and some jarred mushrooms to top it with. Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff taco shells and Gardein Ground Be’f, even though I think “be’f” is a nightmarish contraction.
Favorite ranking: Stouffer’s frozen dinners. I don’t own a microwave (I get my cancers the old fashioned way!), so I love taste testing things that I don’t really buy to eat at home.
Least favorite ranking: Soy sauce. Don’t get me wrong, I love soy sauce—but consuming that much sodium in one sitting is probably illegal in some countries. Our frozen enchilada taste test was a close second; the smell of microwaved corn tortillas still haunts me.
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Gwynedd Stuart
Justine Sterling
Jordan Myrick
