Sydney (Australia) Energy Drink Journey 2020 (January)

Mother New Release, Store-Exclusive Flavor

First, I headed to BP (gas station) to check out the new Mother release, which is available exclusively in stores. I wonder why it had to be a BP exclusive; I can’t imagine it’s going to sell that well (^_^;)

I wondered if they still had stock, so I walked in... and yes, they had it!

There was a sticker on the fridge, and inside, they still had the new Epic Swell. I secured one safely. If it wasn’t here, I would’ve had to go to another BP, so I’m relieved.

According to news released after this trip, Epic Swell is going to be available to the general public, not just store-exclusive anymore. As a fan, I kind of hoped it would remain an exclusive product and disappear quietly (^_^;)

Rockstar New Release Twister Also Starts Australian Distribution

The Rockstar Twister series, released in Europe, has now also launched in Australia, following the European trend.

It’s available in about half of the stores. Since Rockstar is more of a side player compared to V Energy or Red Bull, I guess this was to be expected.

As of January, there was only one flavor available. It’s unclear if more flavors will be added. Sometimes multiple flavors are added, but each one separately, so we’ll have to see when I visit Australia next time.

Also, when I came a few months ago, it seemed like the Start Fresh series was completely finished, but both of them were available now.

I’m relieved to see they are continuing it. Rockstar’s non-mainline products change frequently, so I hope for new flavor additions this year. However, at 4.80 AUD (before tax) per can, it’s a bit pricey...

Looking for Red Bull Set Discounts

In Australia, limited edition Red Bull cans have been released one after another. About a year ago, the original and sugar-free varieties were released, and a few months later, they introduced the "Music Festival Cans" that are sold in various countries.

I’ve been to Australia several times, and it always seems like there are design cans available in every size. Red Bull in Australia really goes all out every year.

This time, there are two varieties—original and sugar-free—so I’d love to buy them in a set for a discount. A single can costs nearly 400 yen...

Since these are 2019 products, finding a store with both in stock is rare...

After searching around, I finally found them. They weren’t that cheap, though.

This store is well-known among energy drink fans for being overpriced, so I didn’t want to buy from here. But at least I got both, so I’ll let it slide.

Beer Breaks Are Always a Must

After moving around a lot in the hot summer, I took a break at a pub. It’s wonderful to have a culture where you can leisurely drink beer from the afternoon.

Taking a break at a pub I’ve never been to before has become a tradition for my Australian trips. My favorite beer is a strong IPA. Enjoying beer while feeling the city around me is, personally, a very luxurious moment.

V Energy Drink Mania Excitement

Now, let’s get back to hunting.

Australia and New Zealand can be called the land of V Energy Drink—V is everywhere you go. It’s such a joy for foreign V Energy fans. Every time I visit a store, I’m reminded of V.

This time, I ventured a bit farther to buy the new Mother release, and I visited some areas I hadn’t been to before.

Energy drinks at local stores can cost 500–600 yen per bottle, so I usually don’t buy them. But at a random store, I happened to find the V Original bottled version for the first time.

I’ve been to Australia more than 20 times, including trips not mentioned in my journal (^_^;) I wonder if they’re sold in the West or North of the country? I thought bottled V was discontinued, so I’m glad I could get one.

I then moved on to a more relaxed pub area to enjoy a beer. While killing time, I popped into a nearby local shop and...

To my surprise, I found V Energy T-shirts!! And two kinds. They were a little dusty, but still... Σ(´∀｀；)

Since there were no price tags, I asked, and it turns out they were just 1 AUD each. I bought both for 2 AUD. Cheaper than energy drinks, lol.

These must be promotional novelties. Since there’s a coffee-themed T-shirt, they were probably made a couple of years ago. It’s amazing that a local shop has these kinds of items on display... I’ll definitely keep checking this store!

When you travel to various countries, you come across energy drink brands you can only find there. When you find a brand that resonates with you, especially along with the experiences in those countries, energy drink life becomes even more enjoyable. For me, that brand is V Energy Drink.

I’ve got a few more trips planned for Australia this year, so I’m looking forward to enjoying V Energy again.