Dr Pepper GHOST Energy? It Could Happen!

Recently, Reddit user MettatonIsMyHusband posted a mockup based on an idea worth exploring: What if GHOST Energy’s new parent company Keurig Dr Pepper let them use those famous 23 flavors for an energy drink? I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, so let’s start with a disclaimer: Everything I’m about to say is speculation. At this time, there are no confirmed plans to release a GHOST Energy flavor based on Dr Pepper.

That said, as we covered recently, GHOST does have a few slots in their energy lineup to fill thanks to a recent break with Mondelēz. If it was up to me, we’d see the permanent return of the Bubblicious Cotton Candy flavor before anything else. Instead of making all my dreams come true, let’s take a little trip down Hypothetical Energy Drink Lane. If GHOST could successfully replicate the Dr Pepper flavor in their energy drink format, the balance of power in the energy drink universe would shift overnight.

What is GHOST Energy?

For the folks who saw Dr Pepper and clicked without understanding anything else, here’s a brief rundown: GHOST is a company known for their zero-sugar energy drinks. A large percentage of that product line are “authentic” collaborations—energy drink flavors based on other brands and products. Popular authentic energy flavors from GHOST have included Welch’s Grape, Warheads, Sour Strips, and more.

Has Dr Pepper ever made an energy drink before?

Yes, but not in America. Back in 2017, “Dr Pepper Energy” was released in Germany and Poland. (If I had a nickel every time I had to write about an energy drink I want to import from Germany…) This Dr Pepper variant contained extra caffeine by way of Red Bull’s classic core ingredient: taurine. I’ve never tried it, but I’m certainly curious. Other colas have attempted to make their own energy drinks/extra-caffeinated variants, but none have had the experience that GHOST Energy would bring to this concept.

What other Keurig Dr Pepper brands could fill the Mondelēz void?

There’s no shortage of flavor concepts to mine from the KDP family. GHOST’s existing citrus energy flavor is underwhelming; a reformulation based on 7UP could bring it into the upper echelon, for sure. I certainly wouldn’t kick a fruity energy flavor based on one of the many Crush sodas (or Cactus Cooler) out of bed. BUM Energy’s Root Beer flavor is one of my favorite energy drinks right now—there’s no reason for GHOST not to try replicating that success with the name recognition of the A&W brand (even if I’d be more personally interested to see a Red Creme Soda energy flavor).

Something awkward that KDP will need to navigate soon is the brand under their umbrella that already has an authentic energy drink collaboration on the market—from one of GHOST’s direct competitors. C4 has a great energy drink on shelves now based on Hawaiian Punch’s Fruit Juicy Red. Will this licensing deal continue? Or will KDP elect not to renew that deal in favor of hoping GHOST can replicate the success for the home team? Only time will tell.