I Tried Kim Kardashian's UPDATE Energy Drink. Would You?

As the great Britney Jean Spears said herself, whether you want a Maserati and hot body or to look hot in a bikini at a big mansion or to party in France you better work bitch. Focus, grind, repeat. Show up every day and make the effort with a smile on your face, inching towards your goal until you reach it. Reap the benefits, enjoy your life, and then get right back to it. While grindset goddess Kim Kardashian told Variety that nobody wants to work any more ("You have to surround yourself with people who want to work. Have a good work environment where everybody loves what they do because you have one life," she graciously advised) she might have realized what we're all lacking: Energy. And maybe she has the solution we all need.

After a mysterious Instagram Live in which she sat quietly until the camera turned to a date (July 23), America’s top media mogul and entrepreneur dropped her biggest announcement of the year on the foreshadowed day: The relaunch of the energy drink brand UPDATE. The brand's reimagining was officially unveiled with an entrancing, fast-paced art film directed by Daniel Sachon.

The advertisement, reminiscent of AI Videos on TikTok of the celebrated entrepreneur buying cities and achieving milestones with confident nonchalance, features Kim Kardashian at a press conference championing work and revealing UPDATE as the secret behind her energy before transitioning to a laboratory scene of experts ("Not me," Kardashian quips) developing the formula for the beverage and landing on the star in a glass museum case observed by feminist lawyer Gloria Allred.

"Did you even pass the bar?" Allred asks. "I didn't pass the bar," Kardashian retorts. "But I raised it." The self-deprecating self-awareness, surreal uncanniness, and pulsing energy of the video have captured the internet's attention.

You may wonder if there's more to UPDATE than splashy marketing, witty humor, and iconic visuals that motivate consumers to spend their hard-earned money on the product (WORK!). I saw the video on TikTok while I was scrolling in bed Friday morning, the day after it dropped. Fascinated by the craze filling my newsfeed, I dedicated my day to get my hands on a can so I could try it out.

What Energy Does Kim Kardashian Bring To The UPDATE Beverage?

Of course, Kim Kardashian wouldn't feature so heavily in the marketing for UPDATE if she hadn't put her personal touch on the product and brand identity. She sued Old Navy for casting a similar-appearing actress in their commercial, via The Hollywood Reporter; the power of her image is undeniable and she is intentional about how it is used. Per Hypebeast, she has been a fan of the beverage since 2023, just a year after its launch in 2022. Her decision to step in as a leader on their team in February 2026 (via Food Dive) can likely be tied to serious changes that have come with this relaunch campaign.

The UPDATE energy drink available now is apparently different than what consumers were drinking earlier this year. An industry insider told me on X, "I tasted a pre-launch version and if I’m not mistaken, at least one of the founders is a Dan [Solomons]. I remember this bc when he introduced himself, I asked if they planned on ever selling to women lol. Everything was so masculine The marketing was very Axe/Dude Wipes-esque." The new product with sleek rebranding, reimagined ingredients, and tongue-in-cheek girl boss energy from co-founder Kim Kardashian shows a distinct departure from the original brand.

“UPDATE gives me clean energy without the jitters or crash—just clarity, focus and balance. Powered by paraxanthine, not caffeine. Zero sugar. Zero calories. Zero artificial flavors or colors. I hope you love it as much as I do," Kardashian is quoted on the company's website. The secret ingredient is Paraxanthin, which is one of the chemicals caffeine is broken down into upon consumption. The idea is to give consumers the perk of energy without crashes, anxiety, or other negative side effects, an expert told Healthline. Other major ingredients in the formula aim to improve cognition and nervous system function. Studies and research on these ingredients support this although human-based trials are limited and physician involvement is recommended for consumers who are changing their diet.

Although Kardashian often weighed in on the taste and formula for UPDATE energy drink even before coming onboard as cofounder (Solomons mentioned her "unsolicited feedback" to Food Dive), her role was specifically to reinvigorate the brand's creative direction. Her ethos, aestethic, and power is evident in the new appearance of the product and excitement around the relaunch.

What People Are Saying About The New UPDATE Relaunch And Marketing

The beauty of the Kardashians is that the clan of powerful and media-savvy women know we, the opinionated public, are always watching their every move. "They worked hard and made sure their names entered the zeitgeist ... they continued to hold their heads up high while still dealing with the sniggers and guffaws ... and they kept going on and on," culture blogger Kendall Defoe wrote on Vocal Media's Geeks outlet.

Kim Kardashian's comments on TikTok and Instagram are of course flooded with praise: "she is exactly who she thinks she is 🥰", "Congratulations, Kim! The branding and campaign are stunning. Can’t wait to see where UPDATE goes! 💜👏", and "Gotta give it to her, the bitch works hard" stick out. A few detractors intone, "This feels so dystopian," and "The drink is trash, but the ad is fire" but that's hardly indicative of anything besides the evergreen polarity of Kardashian's every move.

MJ Corey, author of the groundbreaking Dekonstructing the Kardashians and expert on how the clan's strategy intersects with media theory, pointed out the astuteness of the move into food and beverage on Substack and had previously mused on Kim's similarities to lawyer Gloria Allred (who appears in the UPDATE video) on YouTube. Besides public interest in sampling the product or musing on the business side of the venture, pondering fans and detractors alike can dive deep into how the beverage and advertisement intersect with other aspects of Kim Kardashian's cultural impact and public identity.

What Does The UPDATE Energy Drink Taste Like?

I was able to get my hands on one of the new products and a few of the older versions. The available flavors are Berry, Grape, Peach, Mandarin, and Pineapple, but please note that your local retailer may not have them all on hand. The Vitamin Shoppe I visited didn't have packs available of the UPDATE energy drinks, so I selected individual cans from the drink cooler. I got a Peach flavor from the relaunch and sampled Berry and Mandarin with the previous formula.

The Peach flavor was delightful. The perfect edge of sweet and tart with a wonderful flavor and texture. A surprising slight fizz hit right as I swallowed. The previous formulas for Berry and Mandarin were tasty but had a slightly chalky aftertaste. I look forward to getting my hands on newer versions of these flavors to see if I can tell the difference!

Where Can I Get A Can Of UPDATE Energy Drink?

If learning more about UPDATE, Kim Kardashian's role as co-founder in shaping the brand, and the purported benefits and flavor profile of the beverage have won you over, there are a few ways you can get your hands on the energy drink. The business was started with online sales and subscriptions, so if that's your speed you can order directly from the UPDATE website. They'll even deliver a certain amount every few weeks (2, 4, and 8 week intervals available) to keep you stocked up without even lifting a finger.

You can get the product in stores as well; the new availability of the product in retail outlets began in March and was a part of the relaunch efforts (per Food Dive). The website has a useful Store Locator tool that allows you to find the closest retailers to you. It seems that the drink is stocked in Vitamin Shoppes and Walmarts across the country. These were the options available to me when I looked for it in the Seattle area. To be sure, you can always call ahead to see what your local location has on hand! My Vitamin Shoppe retailer was super helpful in letting me know what flavors, packs, and versions were in the store the day I planned to visit.

Whether you try it once out of curiosity or become a loyal UPDATE fan, comment below to let me know if the bar gets raised.

More on Vocal about Energy Drinks

Joe Nasta is a foodie and poet vibing in Seattle. You could probably find him eating snacks somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.