ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY

Posted on February 16, 2020 | Last updated February 9, 2025

ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY
This was the first flavor of the high-caffeine XDURANCE series. However, the "Smashed Blue" label has been removed from the product name, and the liquid is no longer blue. Since Smashed Blue has been discontinued, I’m adding this as a new review.

You can find my previous review of ROCKSTAR XDURANCE "SMASHED BLUE" COTTON CANDY here.

ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY

Manufacturer	ROCKSTAR
Country of Origin	USA
Price	2 JPY
Flavor	Sugar, Syrup, and Candy
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 XDURANCE COTTON CANDY

When poured into a glass, the liquid is no longer blue like before and has changed to a more transparent color.

Previously, the name included "Smashed Blue," but with this second renewal—the third version overall—that label has been removed, and now it's simply "ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY." The word "blue" is gone from the name, and the color itself is no longer blue. The liquid is cloudy, similar to the Marshmallow flavor from the same series.

Perhaps they wanted to match the near-colorless appearance of other fitness-oriented energy drinks from rival brands. But honestly, Rockstar could have just stuck to its own unique style...

Now, let's give it a taste.

The aroma and flavor are so sweet that it's hard to believe there's no sugar in it. It’s been a while since I last had Cotton Candy, and it’s as impressive as ever. There's absolutely no unpleasant artificial sweetener taste, and the sweetness lingers throughout.

A sweetness that doesn’t exist in nature, with a lingering sugary aroma… I have no idea what kind of blend creates this level of sweetness—it's truly a mystery. That said, it's not overly heavy or syrupy, so it creates this odd sensation where you feel satisfied while drinking it, yet not quite full.

XDURANCE is a fitness-focused series. But honestly, drinking this overly sweet "liquid cotton candy" before or during a workout might be a bit too much...

Energy Ingredients of ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY

It contains 300mg of caffeine, along with 50mg of valine, 200mg of leucine, 50mg of isoleucine as BCAAs, and 4mg of CoQ10. Aside from the caffeine, the rest is almost negligible.
ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY
The biggest difference from the previous Smashed Blue version is the removal of creatine. Rockstar really does love changing things up frequently.

As with previous versions, this one is also zero-calorie and zero-sugar. If you drank it without knowing that in advance, most people wouldn’t even realize it's a zero-zero drink. That’s how well-made it is. In fact, Rockstar USA is among the best in the world at making zero-zero drinks taste like they contain real sugar.

Comparing All Three Generations of ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY

The latest Cotton Candy has completely abandoned its "blue" identity. So, I decided to compare all three generations that have been released so far!

Lined up from left to right: 1st generation, 2nd generation, and the latest 3rd generation. You can clearly see how different they look just from their appearance.
ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY
A cloudy blue, a transparent blue, and now a cloudy clear color.

The 1st Generation Tasted Completely Different

The 1st generation had a strong sourness and didn’t taste like cotton candy at all. The level of sweetness wasn't even up for debate—it just wasn’t there. The gap between the flavor name and the actual taste was so extreme that it might have been a failure from the start.

The 2nd and 3rd Generations Taste Almost the Same

The 2nd generation had an incredibly sweet taste that made it hard to believe it was a zero-zero drink, along with a soft, enveloping sweetness that truly lived up to the cotton candy name. When comparing the 2nd and 3rd generations side by side, the flavors are nearly identical, with only minor changes in color and ingredients.

Ingredient Differences Are Minimal

There are some minor differences in ingredient amounts, but they're almost negligible. The biggest change is that creatine has been removed in the latest version.
ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY
The 3rd generation is on the right. The way the fitness-related ingredients are displayed separately for clarity is a nice touch.

But honestly, they should stop changing the formula so often!

Now, let's take a quick look at the design. On the left is the new 3rd generation Cotton Candy, and on the right is the 2nd generation.
ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY
The "XDURANCE" label is now larger, making the series name stand out more. It seems like Rockstar wants to establish XDURANCE as the defining fitness-focused lineup. But if that’s the goal, they should make it more noticeable on store shelves by placing the branding front and center.

Regarding Rockstar’s design choices—I already wrote about this in my review of the Canadian Rockstar Vodka CHARGED LEMON CITRON, but I believe the best approach would be to use a straight star logo with all key elements clearly displayed at the front. However, in 2020, all Rockstar products across the U.S. transitioned to the big star design, making it harder to convey clear messaging on the front of the can. Now, all they can do is rely on the can's color and star logo for branding, which is a bit of a missed opportunity.