We Tried the Newly Revived Jolt Cola, Here’s What It Tastes Like

Rise up, ‘80s kids: Jolt Cola is back! (Sort of!) For the folks in the audience who can still jump on a trampoline without calling in sick the next day, here’s a summary: Jolt Cola was a highly-caffeinated cola first released in the 1980s—back when parents thought caffeine was the work of the devil. The original tagline for the soda was “All the sugar and twice the caffeine!” Coincidentally that is also going to be my epitaph.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the good people at REDCON1 have secured the license to produce Jolt Cola energy drinks. They started out, fittingly, with the classic Jolt Cola flavor of…cola! But this time they’re making it with zero sugar. We got our hands on a can of this new Jolt Cola revival (from our favorite theme park of a grocery store); let’s find out whether this should have stayed in the past.

New Jolt Cola!

Review: Jolt Cola by REDCON1

Jolt Cola

Pros: I’ve had plenty of cola-flavored energy drinks, and this definitely ranks near the top. It’s tough to get an accurate cola flavor with natural flavors and without sugar of any kind (especially when you’re trying to harken back to the ‘80s); this is a solid attempt.

Cons: This isn’t my favorite cola-flavored energy drink—nor is it particularly over-caffeinated. The cola flavor becomes less appealing the more you drink. And, call me crazy, but if you’re bringing back Jolt Cola (or at least slapping the name on something), shouldn’t it have more caffeine than the average drink of its kind? This 16oz can contains 200mg of caffeine—the same as your standard 12oz can of Alani Nu or Celsius. Meanwhile, C4 and Celsius both sell 16oz energy drinks that contain 300mg of caffeine. This just feels like a missed opportunity. Let’s just bring back Zima instead.

Credit: Liv Averett / Jolt Cola

Rating:

6/10

Sporks

Where can I get the new Jolt Cola for myself?

If you aren’t lucky enough to live near Jungle Jim’s International Market, you can find Jolt Cola at select specialty retailers like GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. Worst case, you can always order yourself a case on REDCON1’s website or Amazon.