Blackout Energy Drink

Posted on June 26, 2020 | Last updated February 8, 2025

This is the original Blackout Energy Drink, which was renewed in 2018.

The flavor remains the same, but the ingredients have been changed, so I'd like to review this updated version as the current product.

Blackout Energy Drink

Manufacturer	Don Quijote
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	200 JPY
Flavor	classic flavor
Total rating	★★★☆☆

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

Blackout Energy Drink Flavor

The classic sweet aroma, this color, and the typical classic flavor are all easy to imagine just by the scent and appearance.

When you take a sip, it has the sweet and sour flavor of a classic energy drink like Red Bull. There’s no chemical taste or off-flavors; it’s light and refreshing. This is the typical flavor of a classic energy drink, and at 500ml for 200 yen, many people might choose to buy Blackout Energy Drink instead of Red Bull!

The sourness is gentler than Red Bull, and for a 500ml drink, this balanced flavor with the right mix of sourness, sweetness, and aroma is just right. Even energy drink enthusiasts who are tired of classic flavors might find this easy to drink, finishing the 500ml without realizing it.

Blackout Energy Drink
Being called a Red Bull knockoff might be both good and bad, but it just shows how high the flavor rating is. It's a shame that you can only buy it at Don Quijote. If it were available at convenience stores or supermarkets, I think it would be even more popular.

Blackout Energy Drink Energy Ingredients

It contains 165mg of caffeine, 600mg of arginine, 100mg of royal jelly, and added BCAAs: 14mg of valine, 27mg of leucine, and 17mg of isoleucine.
Blackout Energy Drink
The caffeine content has decreased from the old version’s 190mg, which is a bit disappointing. In 2017, there was a major issue with caffeine poisoning in Japan, so this could be the reason for the adjustment in the ingredients.

The 190mg of caffeine in the original Blackout Energy Drink was pretty impactful.

Blackout Energy Drink Design

The new Blackout series features a cross design. The design was previously more mythological, but now it’s much simpler.
Blackout Energy Drink
The "KO" in BLACKOUT is highlighted in red, which adds a knockout touch—very pro-wrestling-esque (*´艸｀*)

On the back of the can, the familiar poem common to the Blackout Energy Drink series remains. The content has changed from the previous version, but it's filled with what seems like a poorly translated message—quite confusing Σ(´∀｀；)

Blackout Energy Drink
The barcode features a wrestler pointing directly at it. Have you ever seen a barcode so assertive? This wrestler's barcode design is the same as the one used on the later-released and redesigned Blackout Guarana.