Rockstar (drink)



Rockstar is an energy drink created in 2001 by Russell Weiner, son of conservative talk radio host Michael Savage. It is sold in the U.S. and Canada and currently comes in six varieties :


 * Rockstar Energy Drink (black can)
 * Sugar Free Rockstar Energy Drink (white can)
 * Rockstar Juiced (orange can)
 * Rockstar Juiced Pomegranate (red can)
 * Rockstar Zero Carb (blue can)
 * Rockstar Juiced Guava (purple can)

Rockstar is available in 8.4 fl. oz. (250 ml), 16 fl. oz. (473 ml), and 24 fl. oz. (710 ml) sized cans, depending on the flavor (see below).

Sugar Free Rockstar Energy Drink is aspartame and maltodextrin-free, using instead a blend of Splenda-brand sucralose and acesulfame potassium ("Ace K"). Rockstar isn't recommended for "Children, pregnant or nursing women or those sensitive to caffeine."

Alcoholic Version
There are three alcoholic versions available. In the United States Rockstar 21 is offered, which is a combination of rockstar and vodka with 6.0% alcohol. In Canada 2 varieties exist, one is sold under the name "Rockstar + Vodka", and the other is "Rockstar + Vodka/Pomegranate with both having an alcohol content being 6.9% by volume. It is described on the can as an "adult vodka beverage".

The Rockstar 21 version sold in the United States is actually a malt beverage.

Ingredients
Starting in 2007, the formulation for the Juiced varieties was changed from 70% fruit juice to 50%; also, the primary carbohydrate sweetener was changed from Glucose to Sucrose.

Rockstar was originally known for having high levels of Guarana, but has reduced its level of Guarana Seed Extract from 400 mg per 16 oz can to 50 mg while increasing caffeine levels from 150 mg to 160 mg in most markets in 2007.

Miscellaneous
The drink itself fluoresces when exposed to UV light.

Due to an industry-wide benzene scare, Sodium benzoate was removed from all of Rockstar's products in 2006.

Weiner's family is on the company's board.

At one point during 2007, the 24oz cans were changed from regular cans with pull tabs to the well-known Jolt resealable cans. This was followed up by the amount of ginkgo biloba per serving being changed from 15mg to 150mg and removal of high fructose corn syrup.

Sizes
Rockstar varieties come in differently-sized cans as follows:


 * Original: 8.4, 16 and 24 fl. oz. (250, 473, and 710 ml)
 * Sugar Free: 8.4, 16, and 24 fl. oz. (250, 473, and 710 ml) (Production began the first week of 2007 that included a slightly different formula: now it has no carbohydrates and "Diet" is being replaced with "Sugar Free" in the name. The taste, however, appears to be identical.)
 * Cola: 16 fl. oz. (710 ml) (Discontinued on the U.S. East Coast due to a distribution deal entered with Coca-Cola.)
 * Juiced: 16 and 24 fl. oz. (473 and 710 ml) (See note on Juiced formula change in above section.)
 * Zero Carb: 16 and 24 fl. oz. (473 and 710 ml)
 * Juiced Guava: 16 and 24 fl. oz. (473 and 710 ml) (See note on Juiced formula change in above section.)
 * Rockstar 21: 16 fl. oz. (473 ml) (alcoholic, U.S.)
 * Rockstar + Vodka 16 fl.oz. (473 ml) (alcoholic, CAN.)
 * Burner: 16 fl. oz. (473 ml) (product is sugar free and includes green tea leaf extract)
 * Juiced Pomegranate: 16 and 24 fl. oz. (473 and 710 ml) (See note on Juiced formula change in above section.)

Affiliations
Rockstar is a sponsor of the 2006 Metalcore tour, a Panther Racing car driven by Tomáš Enge in the Indy Racing League (sponsorship ended in 2005), The Playhouse, UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, XCW Pro Wrestling, professional paintball team San Diego Dynasty the Taste of Chaos music tour, and Bam Margera's Viva La Bands 2 music tour.

They also sponsor 12 year old (as of May 2007) BMX racer Austin Hicks of Arlington, Texas.

On 1 January 2006, Rockstar announced a multi-year contract to be the "Official Drink of the Gumball 3000".

In 2006, Six Flags parks began selling Rockstar drinks (and Full Throttle).

The company receives celebrity endorsements from Travis Barker, Fergie (of the Black Eyed Peas), Robin Leach, UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture, Pat Robertson, Linus Torvalds, Jeff Lyon and Abigail Breslin.

Rockstar is also a frequent sponsor of many boxing events (including the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight).

San Francisco band Karate High School is officially sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink.