Former Blackout Energy Drink (released in 2014)

Posted on May 22, 2014 | Last updated February 21, 2025

Blackout Energy Drink
This is Blackout, the official energy drink of DDT, available at Don Quijote.

Former Blackout Energy Drink (released in 2014)

Manufacturer	DDT
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	190 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.

Flavor of Blackout Energy Drink: Just Like Monster or Red Bull

I always release a bit of gas before fully opening an energy drink to check its initial aroma. With Blackout, I could already tell from this moment that it had the classic sweet scent of a traditional energy drink. The color is a straightforward yellow, very much in line with what you’d expect—this looks promising! ((o(´∀｀)o))

When poured into a glass, the carbonation crackles loudly. The fizzing is intense at first but quickly fades away within seconds. I highly recommend pouring it into a glass to experience it for yourself.

Blackout Energy Drink
The taste? It’s like a cross between Red Bull and Monster—shockingly similar to both. It has a mild Mogu-Mogu texture (smooth and enveloping texture) and leaves a lingering aftertaste and aroma. Rather than aiming for originality, it feels like the focus is on offering a safe, large-sized 500ml can with a reliable and familiar taste.

Energy Ingredients of Blackout Energy Drink

With 190mg of caffeine and 600mg of arginine, Blackout packs one of the highest caffeine contents among domestic energy drinks. While it’s important to be mindful of caffeine intake, the fact that it comes in a 500ml can makes it unlikely that someone would consume too much in a short time.

The newer version, "Blackout Original," has reduced caffeine content. This review is kept as a reference for the older formulation.

Blackout Can Design

The front design features lightning, a black sphere, and Japanese katakana text, but the overall look is a bit questionable. It certainly has that “Whoa, I found a weird energy drink” kind of vibe. The large 500ml size, combined with its high-energy ingredients, seems to emphasize a "powerful impact" concept. I get what they were going for! ????

Blackout Energy Drink
The barcode area features an illustration of a bodybuilder or pro wrestler, which seems more like a joke than anything else. Whether this intentional humor adds to its appeal is debatable.

Blackout Energy Drink
Above the ingredient list, there’s even a cryptic poem. Perhaps inspired by Monster Energy? The meaning is unclear, but it seems like the creators had a lot of freedom with this project. ????

With a strong caffeine content, good flavor, and a cost-effective large size, Blackout has a solid foundation. It makes me wonder what it could have been like if they had taken a more serious approach instead of leaning into the novelty aspect.

In 2018, Blackout Energy Drink underwent a reformulation, leading to changes in its ingredients. This review remains as a reference for the original version. ⇒ Click here for the review of the updated Blackout Energy Drink