Food manufacturers are known for their consistency, but at the same time they know people love novelty. Look at Taco Bell for example: their menu consistently has your favorite classics plus a few crazy new items that get people talking.
In recent years, Austrian energy drink brand Red Bull has jumped on this trend as well. They’ve been churning out new flavors on a seasonal basis; some stick around, others are forgotten faster than you can say “Red Bull Cola.”
Without further ado, here’s my completely scientific tasting notes for the current (summer 2026) range of Red Bull flavors.
Red Bull Energy Drink (Original)
- Color: Light brown/dark orange
- Scent: Mildly citrusy sweet, but carries well through the air
- Initial impression: Sparkly and slightly sweet with a hint of bitterness. Like a simple aperitif.
- Aftertaste: Lingering orange.
The mild, refreshing orange-y taste has become a classic for a reason. Very sippable — best served chilled, not over ice.
Rating: 5/5
Sea Blue (Juneberry)
- Color: Purple-blue
- Scent: Concord grape popsicle
- Initial impression: Sweet but tart, fruity, candy-like. Artificially flavored.
- Aftertaste: Minimal; doesn’t stick around.
Somewhat cloying, with a slight nod to Red Bull’s signature flavor profile. Not well balanced.
Rating: 2/5
Yellow (Tropical)
- Color: Urine yellow
- Scent: Too strong, like a cheap scented candle
- Initial impression: Milder than expected from the scent.
- Aftertaste: Longer than I’d like, but gets sweeter after the initial sip.
More refreshing than expected. Somewhat generic like an off-brand regional soda. Not a good fit for the brand.
Rating: 4/5
Coconut (Coconut Berry)
- Color: Light blue
- Scent: Sweet, light berry
- Initial impression: Cotton candy or a snow cone.
- Aftertaste: Coconut becomes more pronounced.
Tastes like something cheap you’d get at a beachfront amusement park. Not terrible, not great. Mercifully unlike coconut La Croix, it also tastes nothing like Coppertone.
Rating: 2/5
Amber (Strawberry Apricot)
- Color: Red, slightly pink
- Scent: Strawberry
- Initial impression: Too sweet, tastes like artificial strawberry flavor. Can’t taste the apricot.
- Aftertaste: Quickly gets bitter.
Very candy-like overall. Is this meant to appeal to kids? Asking because I don’t think kids would like this either.
Rating: 1/5
Peach (White Peach)
- Color: Clear, slightly white
- Scent: Not much of one
- Initial impression: Less intense version of 7 Up.
- Aftertaste: Strong herbal medicine kick.
Not my personal favorite, but will likely appeal to those who enjoy ginger ale, Sprite, etc. Oddly it tastes nothing like peach — if anything it’s more like apricot.
Rating: 4/5
Spring Edition 2026: Cherry Sakura
- Color: Pinkish red
- Scent: Fresh lawn clippings, cherry juice
- Initial impression: Light fruit punch, not overly sweet. Smell and taste are somewhat incongruous.
- Aftertaste: Artificial cherry flavor becomes more prominent.
Easily the most mild flavor of these, I doubt anyone would associate it with Red Bull in a blind taste test. I couldn’t get over the disappointing aftertaste; the recipe would be much better with some light tweaks. This is the second version of this flavor, maybe third time’s the charm?
Rating: 2/5
Summer Edition 2026: Sudachi Lime
- Color: Lemonade
- Scent: Lemonade
- Initial impression: Tangy, sweet lemonade.
- Aftertaste: Thick, sweet. Lightly citrusy, but not quite lemon.
This type of Japanese lime has an interesting flavor, but it’s packed with too much sugar. It has a thick texture to it like it was made with mineral water.
Rating: 3/5
Red (Watermelon)
- Color: Darkish red
- Scent: Sweet, candy-like
- Initial impression: Milder than the smell suggests. Slightly bitter.
- Aftertaste: Watermelon flavor comes in later as the bitterness wears off and it becomes sweeter.
Grew on me with each sip — possibly the standout flavor on this list. If more than one Red Bull variety is for sale, this is usually one of them. It’s easy to see why.
Rating: 4.5/5
