ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON

Posted on January 17, 2023 | Last updated February 1, 2025

This is the new flavor of the PUNCHED series, ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON, released after PepsiCo's acquisition.

In the United States, there was a sugar-free version called ROCKSTAR PURE ZERO WATERMELON, released in 2015, but this is the first watermelon flavor in the PUNCHED series with added sugar.

ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON

Manufacturer	ROCKSTAR
Country of Origin	USA
Price	2.69 USD
Flavor	Watermelon
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 ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON

Upon opening, a characteristic grassy smell of watermelon flavor wafts through the air. Recently released watermelon flavors tend to have eliminated the grassy notes, so this one feels refreshingly different. Let's take a sip.
Flavor of ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON
Upon tasting, the watermelon flavor stands out with a pronounced sourness. The flavor itself is flat, lacking rhythm, and there's no taste of watermelon flesh.

It would be nice if there was a bit more of the refreshing essence of watermelon flesh. Still, the distinctive grassy aroma of watermelon is present, which is a redeeming quality.

Despite being a full-sugar watermelon flavor, the taste and scent aren't overwhelming, and the aftertaste is refreshing. While there isn't much umami, the drinkability retains the refreshing watermelon-like juiciness.

Energy Ingredients of ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON

Energy Ingredients of ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON
Contains 240mg of caffeine, taurine, milk thistle, ginseng, and guarana. The caffeine content is quite high, but there's also a significant amount of sugar, 61g, so caution is advised to avoid overconsumption.

Design of ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON

A combination of red, black, and green, reminiscent of watermelon rind. This flavor is one of the few in the PUNCHED series to use three colors, which is unusual.
Design of ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON
This color combination immediately evokes thoughts of watermelon flavor.

Design of ROCKSTAR PUNCHED WATERMELON
However, from the front of the can, the flavor name isn't listed, making it hard to tell what flavor it is. This design issue should be addressed sooner rather than later.