SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL

Posted on October 17, 2023 | Last updated January 31, 2025

SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL
SPIKE is one of the most caffeine-packed energy drink brands in the United States, and this is its 250ml original version. Although it has been discontinued, it once held the record for the highest caffeine concentration per ounce among American energy drinks.

When it was first released, SPIKE was available in two sizes: the 250ml "SPIKE SHOOTER" and the 500ml "SPIKE SHOTGUN." Around 2008, discussions on U.S. internet forums often referred to it as "SPIKE SHOOTER," but in reality, "SPIKE" was the brand name, while SHOOTER (250ml) and SHOTGUN (500ml) were the specific product names.

The exact launch date is unclear, but by 2007, SPIKE had already introduced the incredibly potent "SPIKE SHOOTER," packing a staggering 300mg of caffeine into just 250ml. This extreme caffeine content led to incidents of high school students experiencing caffeine overdoses, making it a controversial product that struggled to achieve widespread distribution.

Now, let's take a closer look at the legendary SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL.

SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL

Manufacturer	SPIKE
Country of Origin	USA
Price	1.99 USD
Flavor	Acerola、Cranberry、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 SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL

Upon opening the can, a sweet cherry and cranberry aroma immediately fills the air. It’s quite rare for an "Original" flavor to not follow the classic energy drink taste profile, especially at the time of its release. Let’s give it a try.
Flavor of SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL
The first sip delivers a bold fruit punch flavor, blending sweet cherry and cranberry. It emphasizes sweetness rather than acidity, making it hard to believe this is a zero-sugar drink.

The flavor has almost no artificial sweetener aftertaste, yet it somehow carries a noticeable richness. If you’re expecting a full-sugar fruit punch, you won’t be disappointed.

Given its rich, concentrated fruit punch profile, the 250ml size feels just right. Imagining this same taste in the 500ml SHOT GUN version sounds like a real challenge to finish.

Energy Ingredients of SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL

Energy Ingredients of SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL
With 300mg of caffeine, acetyl-L-tyrosine for cognitive support and stress resistance, and yohimbine HCl for enhanced athletic performance, fat loss, and libido support, this drink is packed with potent ingredients.

The caffeine content alone is impressive, but the inclusion of acetyl-L-tyrosine—a rare smart amino acid in energy drinks—along with yohimbine HCl, exclusive to the SPIKE series, is truly surprising. This formula makes it an ideal pre-workout energy drink.

Design of SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL

A black can with bold gold and red SPIKE branding, surrounded by a clutter of text, creates a chaotic yet balanced design. The black base color adds to the intimidating and extreme vibe.
Design of SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL
The product name is subtly placed on the left, while the series name, SHOOTER, appears in the upper right corner.

At the top of the can, a large warning label advises consumers to read carefully before drinking and not to exceed one can per day—further reinforcing the drink’s intense reputation.
Design of SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL
It’s rare to see an energy drink with such a prominent warning on the front. Yet, SPIKE manages to make even the cautionary text a part of its striking design.

Everything about this branding screams "THE HARDCORE ENERGY DRINK."

The back of the can features even more detailed warnings. Despite all these precautions, incidents involving teenagers consuming SPIKE SHOOTER in excess still became a major issue.
Design of SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL
Following these incidents, major convenience stores—especially 7-Eleven locations in Colorado, where problems arose—began pulling SPIKE SHOOTER from their shelves, limiting its availability mainly to supplement stores. I first purchased it in 2012, and the last time I saw SPIKE SHOOTER was during my 2017 trip to Detroit, where a single GNC supplement store still had some stock. It was likely dead stock at that point.

The confusion over the branding—where many articles mistakenly referred to the brand as "SPIKE SHOOTER" rather than just "SPIKE"—was likely due to the rarity of the 500ml SHOT GUN version. Many retailers didn’t stock the larger size, so its existence was simply unknown. Even I never once saw SHOT GUN on store shelves.

SPIKE SHOOTER THE ORIGINAL
Today, the fully revamped SPIKE series is barely seen in major convenience stores, making it incredibly difficult to collect all flavors.