V ENERGY KABOOM

Posted on June 22, 2021 | Last updated February 4, 2025

V ENERGY KABOOM, a limited flavor released in Australia and New Zealand in 2014. Interestingly, it was revived in 2017 in New Zealand as a limited edition, making it one of the rarer products in the V ENERGY series.

This time, the main review focuses on the 2017 version of KABOOM, with a comparison to the 2014 version.

V ENERGY KABOOM

Manufacturer	Frucor suntory
Country of Origin	New Zealand
Price	5 NZD
Flavor	Cola
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.

V Original with a Cola Candy Flavor

Upon opening, there’s a slight scent of cola gummies. The color is a classic cola-like brown, so it's hard to tell what the flavor is just by the aroma.
V ENERGY KABOOM
When you take a sip, the flavor combines the V Original base with a sweet and tart cola gummy, cola candy-like taste. It’s a cola-based variation of V Original.

The cola’s unique tartness is quite strong, and it still retains the V Original flavor, making it a bit of a hit-or-miss when it comes to taste. It’s curious how this cheap cola gummy flavor was revived in 2017 in New Zealand... It’s a bit hard to understand Σ(´∀｀；)

Comparing the Old and New V ENERGY KABOOM

I have both the 2014 and 2017 versions of V ENERGY KABOOM, so I decided to compare them. Honestly, there isn’t a big difference between them—only a slight deterioration, if anything—but since I have the older version, let's open it up and see.

On the left is the 2017 version of V ENERGY KABOOM, and on the right is the 2014 version. The color is nearly identical. There’s no leakage, so the carbonation is still intact even in the 2014 version.

The 2017 version was a re-release, not a reformulation, so the taste is the same. However, the 2014 version has aged, and the sweetness has become more intense. The cheap cola tartness remains, but the sweetness has mellowed out, giving it a heavier, more subdued feel. While degradation is expected, I’m fortunate that the revival allowed me to enjoy the fresh taste again.

V ENERGY KABOOM's Energy Ingredients

V ENERGY KABOOM
Contains 155mg of caffeine, 1000mg of taurine, and 600mg of guarana. These are the standard energy ingredients for the V ENERGY drink series.

V ENERGY KABOOM's Design

V ENERGY KABOOM features comic-style artwork printed on the can.

Three different designs were released, along with three packaging options—500ml, 250ml, and glass bottles—making a total of nine different variations.

Each design features a short 4-panel comic story.
V ENERGY KABOOM
In each story, drinking the V ENERGY drink transforms the character into a hero, gives them an energetic afro, or even turns them into King Kong. It's a fun and easy-to-understand theme, fitting for an energy drink.

V ENERGY KABOOM
The can has a white base with black and mirror-silver shading, giving it a stylish look. The taste was honestly a bit underwhelming, but I really like the design—it’s one of my personal favorites from the V ENERGY drink series.