Energy Shots Over Vodka Shots: 5-Hour Energy Makes Moves Into Mocktail Market

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Film festival season is upon us, and moviegoers and partygoers alike could be reaching for a 5-Hour Energy shot as a way to stay alert and animated through the night. But the popular beverage brand is also hoping that people reach for a bottle of 5-Hour Energy this season as an inspired alternative to alcohol.

5-Hour Energy is officially hopping on the mocktail trend, with a series of original drink creations designed to provide the same “buzz” of alcohol – minus the hangover. The brand partnered with former Las Vegas bartender, Jason Puckly, to create the mocktail recipes, which range from a “Berry Blast” (blending star fruit, strawberries, blueberries and 5-Hour Energy “Firework Freeze”) to a festival-appropriate “Frozen Champ,” which uses 5-Hour Energy Raspberry Cooler, lemonade and chilled black tea.

Best known by his Instagram handle, The Sin City Bartender, Puckly launched his spinoff account, Sin City Mocktails, in 2024, as a way to promote non-alcoholic versions of his favorite drinks, while debunking myths about flavors and ingredients. While 5-Hour Energy is known for its bold and inventive flavors – bakeshop-inspired Jelly Donut and Boston Cream are the latest in the lineup – there is zero sugar and zero calories in each shot, giving you an energy boost without the sugar crash.

The brand also delivers a healthy dose of B-vitamins and essential nutrients with every shot. And each serving contains 230 mg of caffeine – about the same as a Starbucks tall coffee – making the dietary supplement a popular alternative to java as well. 

While the dietary supplement may be most popularly associated with staying awake to finish a deadline or perking up before a big presentation, the brand’s latest push positions it as a social tonic as well. A “Cotton Candy Milkshake,” for example, tastes just like the real thing, with 5-Hour Energy Cotton Candy, vanilla ice cream and coconut milk blended with ice – perfect for after-parties and pool parties alike. A “Tropical Butterfly Refresher” combines a Hawaiian Breeze 5-Hour Energy shot with POG juice, lime juice and butterfly pea tea for a (non)-spirited take on a spritz.

You can discover all the 5-Hour Energy flavors online at 5HourEnergy.com. The site is also where you’ll find all the latest mocktail recipes, developed with Puckly.

5-Hour Energy’s move into the mocktail space is not unprecedented. New research shows the global mocktail market staring at an estimated value of $16 billion in 2026, with customers increasingly eschewing alcohol due to rising health consciousness and wellness-focused lifestyle trends. That has led to a rise in both sober and “sober curious” options for drinkers at home and at the bar.