NOS Rowdy

Posted on October 7, 2016 | Last updated February 12, 2025

NOS Rowdy, which suddenly appeared in 2016, was initially released exclusively at 7-Eleven in the U.S. Before long, it became a nationwide product and a staple in the NOS lineup. It has since been rebranded and is now known as the regular "NOS POWER PUNCH" flavor, after dropping the "Rowdy" name.

NOS Rowdy

Manufacturer	NOS
Country of Origin	USA
Price	2 JPY
Flavor	Cherry、Punch
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 NOS Rowdy

NOS Rowdy
The contents match the bright red fruit punch color expected from the can design. If you like fruit punch flavors, this color and the aroma that spreads are sure to excite you.

When you take a sip, you get the classic fruit punch flavor you were expecting. The sweetness of the punch is balanced by a strong cherry tang, making it refreshing and juicy, with a noticeable cherry punch. It’s surprisingly easy to drink, and before you know it, you’ve finished the can.

While there are richer, more classic cherry punch flavors out there, Rowdy is unique in that it features a refreshing sweetness and tang. For fans of fruit punch flavors, a 473ml can may not be enough.

Energy Ingredients of NOS Rowdy

NOS Rowdy
It contains 159mg of caffeine and taurine. The ingredient list is quite simple, without any additional herbal ingredients, which is a bit disappointing. If it had NOS-style ingredients, it would have been more fun to look at the ingredient list while drinking.

Design of NOS Rowdy

Released in the same year as the MONSTER ENERGY GRONK, NOS Rowdy features a rough texture on the surface of the can.

The can features NASCAR driver Kyle Busch. It’s rare to see individual collaboration flavors released globally, and this may have been possible because NOS became part of the Monster Energy family. It’s a product that feels authentically NOS.

At the time, individual original flavors such as VR46 and LH34 were already being released. However, the fact that NOS, which was previously under a different company, released a similar product was a surprise.

The flavor, fruit punch, is a classic and a favorite in the NOS series. When it was released, the collaboration with Kyle Busch was a surprising choice.

Visited Monster Energy HQ in 2016 (Energy Drink Travel)

Though it’s unclear how well it sold, I personally think that releasing a Kyle Busch collaboration with NOS was the right move. If it had just been a regular punch flavor in the series, it wouldn’t have had much impact. Fruit punch is too much of a classic, expected flavor.

NOS Rowdy was released in Canada as well after its debut in the U.S.

As in the U.S., fruit punch was essential for NOS Rowdy in Canada, making it a perfect addition to the lineup.

Unfortunately, after the contract expired, NOS Rowdy was discontinued. In 2020, Kyle Busch launched his own energy drink brand, "ROWDY ENERGY."

The design is unexpectedly sleek. It’s not often that you see such a well-designed can.

On the other hand, NOS rebranded its product in 2019, renaming it "NOS POWER PUNCH" and releasing the fruit punch flavor.
NOS Rowdy
If it had been released as "Power Punch" in 2016, the impact would have been minimal. Fruit punch was already considered a standard flavor, so its release would have seemed inevitable.

For NOS, which was on the verge of fading from the mainstream, launching NOS Rowdy with a punch flavor was a brilliant move.

NOS Rowdy
With a black top and red tab, the design is hard to criticize.

Looking at the overall flow of energy drink brands, NOS Rowdy stands out for its delicious flavor, the impact of its collaboration design with Kyle Busch, and its role in the NOS brand's revival through a promotional campaign. Without a doubt, it’s a masterpiece.