In 2024, we sipped our way through enough energy drinks to fuel a small city. We tasted Reign’s full lineup (13 flavors!), a slew of new Monsters (Monster Java Irish Creme is surprisingly…not bad?), and C4s that taste like Jolly Ranchers (Watermelon rules). But a couple of new and new-to-us energy drinks tasted so good we just had to celebrate them. If your morning coffee just isn’t cutting it, here are the best energy drinks we tried this year.
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Alani Dream Float tastes exactly like an orange creamsicle. And not a melted one—an actual creamsicle that gives you tangy orange up front and then creamy vanilla on the finish. This energy drink feels like a feat of food science, and we’re into it. Is it a bit indulgent to drink pre-workout? Perhaps. But if you need something sweet to put a little pep in your step when you suddenly need a nap at 3 p.m. but your body won’t fit under your desk, this is the thing to grab.
We’re big Monster fans over here. Their drinks come in intimidatingly large cans. Their logo is aggressive. But damn, do a lot of their drinks taste good! This new Monster flavor, which dropped in March, is zero sugar, but still blew us away. Have you ever wished Fresca or Squirt would give you enough energy to fist fight the sun? Well, Monster Ultra Fantasy Ruby Red is your jam. It’s zippy, tart, and highly refreshing. We hope this flavor sticks around because it’s the best energy drink we had all year.
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
Vinz Karl
Naajia Shukri
