ROCKSTAR XDURANCE SMASHED BLUE COTTON CANDY

Posted on January 20, 2019 | Last updated February 9, 2025

ROCKSTAR XDURANCE SMASHED BLUE COTTON CANDY
The second release in the U.S. XDURANCE series, this high-caffeine lineup was introduced as Rockstar’s response to Bang's success in the fitness industry.

Just like Ripped Red, I compared both the initial version and the redesigned version side by side. I never expected them to be this different...

Update: A third-generation Cotton Candy has now been released! The "Smashed Blue" label is gone, and even the drink’s color has disappeared (^_^;). I've added a review for the new version, so be sure to check out the third-generation ROCKSTAR XDURANCE COTTON CANDY as well.

ROCKSTAR XDURANCE SMASHED BLUE COTTON CANDY

Manufacturer	ROCKSTAR
Country of Origin	USA
Price	2 USD
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.

Sweet and Overpowering Cotton Candy

The moment you open the can, a wave of overwhelming sweetness rushes out—classic America! The scent is so intense that it feels more like something you’d smell from food rather than a drink (^_^;).

ROCKSTAR XDURANCE SMASHED BLUE COTTON CANDY
The liquid is a crystal-clear blue, perfectly matching the can's color. Let's take a sip!

Even just bringing the glass closer fills the air with a soft cotton candy aroma. As soon as the drink touches your tongue, an intense wave of sweetness follows. It’s shockingly sweet.

There’s almost no acidity—this is purely a sweet-focused flavor. Despite being made entirely with artificial sweeteners, the taste is rich, without any unpleasant artificial aftertaste. The cotton candy aroma further enhances the perceived sweetness. It's hard to believe this is a zero-calorie, zero-sugar drink (*´艸｀*).

If this had real sugar instead of artificial sweeteners, the Mogu-Mogu texture (smooth and enveloping texture) might have even surpassed Monster Original… That’s how deep and lingering the aroma is. This is truly impressive, lol.

Does This Sweetness Suit a Workout? Or Make You Crave It?

ROCKSTAR XDURANCE SMASHED BLUE COTTON CANDY
XDURANCE is marketed as a fitness-oriented drink, but with this level of sweetness, it seems tough to drink during a workout. Ingredient-wise, it’s suitable as a pre-workout, but even then, the overwhelming sweetness might make it difficult to enjoy (´・ω・｀).

It might work as a treat during a low-carb diet for a change of pace, but whether you'd actually crave it in that situation… that’s debatable. It doesn’t seem particularly suited for Japanese tastes (^_^;).

Energy Ingredients of ROCKSTAR XDURANCE SMASHED BLUE COTTON CANDY

This drink contains 300mg of caffeine, creatine, BCAAs, and Coenzyme Q10—a lineup of ingredients typically found in muscle-building supplements. Unlike many other energy drinks, it does not contain taurine.

The exact amounts of ingredients other than caffeine are unknown, but the composition makes it seem well-suited for pre-workout consumption.

The tab is light blue, perfectly matching the drink’s color (●´ω｀●).
Energy drinks are truly a work of art when the can design, liquid color, and tab color all come together.

New vs. Old SMASHED BLUE: A Taste Comparison

ROCKSTAR XDURANCE SMASHED BLUE COTTON CANDY
When XDURANCE first launched, there were two versions of SMASHED BLUE: the original release and the updated one labeled “Cotton Candy.” Since the ingredients slightly differ, I decided to compare them.

ROCKSTAR XDURANCE SMASHED BLUE COTTON CANDY
Lining them up like this, you can see the difference at a glance. The original SMASHED BLUE has a cloudy appearance, similar to Monster Energy Ultra Blue. Just like RIPPED RED, it seems that the early versions of XDURANCE had a cloudy look.

Flavor Comparison

Upon tasting, the cotton candy aroma in the original is much more subdued, and the sweetness is also toned down, making the acidity stand out more. It lacks the rich, syrupy sweetness of the updated version, making it an entirely different drink. Calling this "Cotton Candy" would feel a bit off.

Even with less sweetness, the artificial sweetener taste remains minimal, and the aftertaste is smooth and pleasant. It seems like Rockstar decided to significantly boost the sweetness when they officially labeled it as Cotton Candy.

I’ve sampled Rockstar drinks from around the world, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a drastic flavor change from a minor update.

Ingredient Comparison

Both versions contain 300mg of caffeine, but the original version has 40kcal, meaning it’s not entirely zero-calorie.

ROCKSTAR XDURANCE SMASHED BLUE COTTON CANDY
In terms of energy ingredients, the original contains 1000mg of taurine, 100mg of arginine, 100mg of carnitine, and creatine. If they were going to add arginine, I feel like BCAAs (as seen in the second version) would have made more sense for a fitness-oriented drink. Otherwise, I actually prefer the ingredient profile of the original (*´艸｀*).

The taste and ingredients are so different that comparing them side by side is fascinating. It’s rare to see such drastic changes within such a short time. When I first bought them, I never expected this much variation.

Other energy drinks, not just Rockstar, sometimes undergo silent formula changes alongside packaging updates, so it’s always worth paying close attention!