New Alani Nu Energy Drink: A Flavor Circus in Every Sip

Back in December, I revealed that Alani Nu intended to revive one of its earliest energy flavors. More than six months on, I’ve finally gotten my hands on one of this summer’s most anticipated energy beverages. Let’s determine if the sip leans toward fruit-flavored candy or candy-flavored fruit.

Alani Nu Purple Cotton Candy Energy Review

A fresh Alani Nu energy drop!

Pros: I’ve encountered genuinely grape-forward energy drinks before, and this one stands apart—in a very good way. Alani Nu Purple Cotton Candy Energy tastes like grape hard candy in a can. Just like Alani Nu’s original Cotton Candy Energy, this beverage nails the cotton candy texture while avoiding the generic sugar aftertaste that haunted the first version.

Speaking of sugar flavor, Alani Nu still deserves major credit for masking any artificial sweetener notes. This brand remains a go-to for many because it’s one of the best zero-sugar options that still tastes like real sugar.

Cons: The original Cotton Candy Energy earned and lost points for its fidelity. This new variant doesn’t seem fully decided between cotton candy and grape hard candy—a potential win if you’re not a fan of either on its own, yet a bit perplexing once the drink’s flavor settles in your mouth.

One topic the online chatter seems to agree on is how closely this drink resembles cough syrup. I don’t have a particular nostalgia or aversion to grape Dimetapp; given how vehemently some people are critiquing this flavor, I must count myself lucky to miss that association.

Rating:

7.5/10

What’s the next new energy drink coming from Alani Nu?

For the first time in a while, I’m not sure. The retail calendar that leaked late last year didn’t reveal flavors beyond this one. We’re anticipating the caramel apple-inspired Witch’s Brew and the erratic Winter Wonderland to make return appearances during their usual seasonal windows toward year’s end; beyond those returns, the path of Alani Nu’s next debut remains anyone’s guess.

Here’s a thought that might chill some folks: Alani Nu could start trimming flavors rather than adding them. The lineup has swelled to fourteen options over the past couple of years, at least by my count; are there enough buyers for Cosmic Stardust to justify keeping it around? Might it work better as a limited seasonal flavor or a club-store exclusive? (And here’s a playful, unlikely idea: imagine Alani Nu, OREO, and Mountain Dew launching their space-themed products simultaneously to a devoted fanbase. Perhaps we’d even inaugurate a space-themed Hallmark holiday.)