Welcome to another first-ever Caffeine Shark post that we plan to make yearly: the Most Underrated Energy Drinks, hand-picked by your favorite self-proclaimed energy drink experts, the Sharks. (For the highest-rated drinks of the year, which include a criminally underrated drink or two, see our Best Energy Drinks of 2021.)

TL;DR: Our picks are Adrenaline Shoc Accelerator Cherry Limeade, Bucked Up Blood Raz, and Uptime Original Citrus Sugar Free.

Jared: Adrenaline Shoc Accelerator Cherry Limeade

Adrenaline Shoc Accelerator Cherry Limeade

“Underrated” means different things to different people. To me, it means flying under the radar, a drink people aren’t even rating. Maybe that’s the underdog fan in me.

In the energy drink world, the brand flying way too far under the radar for how good and deep its lineup is has to be Adrenaline Shoc. It launched in 2019 from serial beverage innovator Lance Collins (the man behind FUZE, NOS, BODYARMOR, and Core Hydration), with Keurig Dr Pepper handling marketing and distribution, and it has quietly built quite a stable.

The main line includes Watermelon, Shoc Wave, Fruit Punch, Sour Candy, and Acai Berry. But my pick comes from the newer, fitness-focused Accelerator line: Cherry Limeade. From my review:

There are a ton of cherry limeade drinks on the market, so I’ll try to provide some good comparisons. Unlike the main Adrenaline Shoc line, this drink isn’t bitter, despite the easy path to bitterness with the limeade half. It’s really smooth, and the cherry and limeade both come in strong, which is more than I can say for Reign Cherry Limeade. I described that drink as a “cherry Tootsie Pop,” where the limeade isn’t distinct.

The can is still pretty cool. Accelerator trades the single-color background for a white, red, and black scheme with clean lines. The top advertises zero sugar, ocean mineral electrolytes, and “accelerates metabolism,” and the side mentions EGCG green tea, which (TIL) stands for epigallocatechin gallate.

I love the Accelerator line: lower caffeine, less bitterness (which means more re-drinkability), smooth taste, and a pitch to the natural-energy health and fitness crowd.

Cam: Bucked Up Blood Raz

Bucked Up Blood Raz

The answer is simple. Nobody talks about it, nobody knows about it, and it’s one of my top five energy drinks of all time.

I rated Blood Raz a 9.3 overall with a 9.4 kick and 9.2 taste. It’s absolutely delicious and really gets you going. The red raspberry flavor is unique for an energy drink, and it doesn’t taste artificial despite having zero calories. The only place I’ve seen it is GNC, but I’m hoping it makes it to mainstream shelves one day.

Bucked Up started as a pre-workout supplement, and because its main form is a powder, it may never become a mainstream convenience-store brand. Another reason: it contains a small amount of deer antler velvet, a source of IGF-1, an insulin-like growth factor banned by the NFL, anti-doping agencies, and others. It isn’t illegal or necessarily harmful, but there’s a reason you won’t find it next to the Monsters.

The FDA suggests people sensitive to caffeine avoid this type of drink, and WebMD suggests people avoiding testosterone, progesterone, or estrogen avoid deer velvet. If you’re healthy enough to drink it responsibly, I guarantee you’ll enjoy it. My full review is on the Blood Raz page.

Matt: Uptime Original Citrus Sugar Free

Uptime Original Citrus Sugar Free

A Shark Score in the 90s may sound like a winner, but that doesn’t mean the drink gets the appreciation it deserves. Uptime isn’t a well-known brand and gets passed over because of it. I’ve put multiple friends onto it, with great success.

I enjoy every Uptime, but Original Citrus Sugar Free is the standout. My review said it “tastes like soda from the fountain that just got reloaded with syrup.” If you like a crisp Sprite, you can’t go wrong. If you have a sweet tooth, Original Citrus Cane Sugar keeps the crispness with the sweetness you crave.

Feeling adventurous? Try Uptime’s newer Raspberry Lemon and Sweet Summer Melon, and tell us if you want a review.