Bob Ross Energy Drink (History, Marketing & Pictures)

If you have ever wanted to know if an energy drink could be as relaxing and unique as a Bob Ross class, this is the promise that is offered by the Bob Ross Energy Drink. This unique and admittedly rather strange item is actually a real thing that you can buy and consume. Many people express skepticism that this drink even exists, but it does and it is still for sale if you want to try it.

There are many reasons why this is a unique and rather delightfully odd treat and people often try the drink just to say that they have done so. Even if energy drinks are not your favorite way to get going in the morning, it might be worth grabbing one of these unique cans of go-go juice just to say that you have experienced the liquid version of a Bob Ross painting session.

History

Bob Ross has enjoyed new popularity recently with millennials and his painting shows have suddenly become quite popular again, shared through YouTube. The joy and positivity that was a huge part of Bob Ross’s presence on TV for all the years that he was painting have been a welcome bit of light for young people faced with tough choices, a pandemic, and many other challenges during the last decade.

Social media has picked up Bob Ross almost as though he were still alive and creating his own content. Between documentaries, cameos of the old TV content that he created during his career, and Deadpool getting in on the action. This sudden rise in fame of a formerly mildly popular uplifting painter on TV has sparked a lot of spin-off products and items that younger people are snapping up eagerly.

One of the stranger items to go to market surrounding Bob Ross’ recent increase in popularity is the Bob Ross Energy Drink. Vat19 makes the drink and it retails for the steep price of $4. This is a standard fare energy drink that is electric blue in color and promises to give you all of the positive energy and enthusiasm for life that Bob Ross was so famous for.

Vat19 is known for gag gifts and odd and off-beat products that are meant to be given as silly and fun stocking stuffers and more. The Bob Ross Energy Drink is one of their products and they promise that you can get this drink in a variety of flavors and that Bob Ross’ face will be on every can. You will get your full dose of energy drink ingredients in each can and they tell you that Bob Ross’ legacy will “give you a boost of positive energy to go about your day”.

This is one of the more mildly odd products that the company sells and distributes and there are more unique and off-beat Bob Ross items that you can add to your order when you look at their website. Between toys, candy, clothing, gag gifts, and more, this is a strange company to have pioneered an energy drink, but this is your main supplier for this strange and eccentric energy drink experience.

Bob Ross’ entire TV persona and all of the ways in which he was connected with painting and television were for years tied up in legal wrangling after his death. The final outcome was that there was no wiggle room on using Bob Ross’ name for anything related to paints, painting, or even TV. What could be done with his name and his likeness, was make anything else that did not connect with painting.

This final outcome of the entire legal process has led to some really unique products that are sold with Bob Ross’ name and likeness on them. Among them, is this energy drink, which seems totally out of place in the energy drink world even knowing why it has come into existence. The licensing foibles and difficulties related to the way in which Bob Ross’ partners handled his estate and the access that could be given to use of his name has led to some strange products being made. This is one of these products that Bob Ross’ remaining family can market with his name on it, and so they have chosen to do so.

While it is not clear if there will be any subsequent versions of the drink or if the company intends to make the energy drink for the long haul, you will be able to grab a few cans from their site or Walmart, or even select vending machines in the US while they are being sold. This is definitely a unique and slightly silly item that can be enjoyed or simply collected so that you can explain to others that this item really was made at one time.

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Flavors

The company states that they get the drink in an assortment of flavors from their supplier and cannot promise that you will get the flavor that you request. This means that you might get one of any of the flavors that are listed on the site.

• Mixed Berry
• Cherry
• Bubblegum

While it is not ideal that you cannot pick your flavor, I think that we can all admit that most energy drinks taste about the same, so the likelihood that anything will differentiate between these unique flavors as related to taste is probably small.

Ingredients

From the website listing at Vat19:

• 100 mg of caffeine
• 12 oz ginseng, guarana and b vitamins
• Water
• High fructose corn syrup
• Citric acid
• Sodium citrate
• Taurine
• Natural flavor
• Potassium sorbate
• Potassium benzoate
• Ginseng root extract
• Guarana seed extract
• Inositol
• Niacinamide- Vitamin B-3
• Calcium D Pantothenate – Vitamin B-5
• Pyridoxine hydrochloride- vitamin B-6
• Cyanocobalamin – Vitamin B-12
• Guam acacia
• Glycerol ester of wood rosin
• FD&C Red #40
• FD&C Blue #1

The label also warns that this drink is not safe for people who are sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women, or women who are nursing.

Nutrition

Serving Size:	335 ml	% Daily Value*
Amount per serving
Calories	151
Total Fat	0g
Saturated Fat	0g
Trans Fat	0g
Sodium	151mg	7%
Total Carbs	39g	14%
Total Sugars	38g
Added Sugars	38g	75%
Protein	0g
Niacin	12.3mg	77%
Vitamin B-6	1.32mg	78%
Vitamin B-12	3.4mcg	142%
Pantothenic Acid	3.8mg	75%
Potassium	63mg	1%

Marketing

The drink cans almost look more like they contain an alcoholic beverage and display the same kind of colors and vibe as a wine cooler mixed with a low-quality beer. That being said, the primary feature that one walks away with from looking at the can is the smiling countenance of Bob Ross himself, grinning at you from the front of the can.

The lettering is small and a little dense and the scene behind the painting legend is a little blurry and indecipherable, but the message is really clear. You are getting a can of joy and happiness, and maybe a little pick-me-up when you need it most. The electric color of the drink is partially matched by the exterior of the cans and they are 12 oz grab-and-go size cans that offer the real estate to display a complex design on the front of them.

The company has been clear about its slogans and branding for the drink that bears Bob Ross’ image and the connections between happy little accidents, joy, and peace, and creative energy are made clear in every version of the marketing discussion and slogans. Considering that this is not a mass-produced drink that is created by a drink company with this single product in mind, this is actually a rather delightfully well-orchestrated effort and you will get a certain amount of joy out of just picking up one of these cans.

What Does Bob Ross Energy Drink Taste Like?

Many people report that it tastes as you would expect but that the drink is not bad. They are actually pretty popular with many people and the Mixed Berry leads the way as the most popular flavor. Many people report that the energizing capacity of the drink is quite good as well, which it should be with that much caffeine in it along with the guarana and b vitamins. This is actually a well-liked energy drink overall, which says something.

Most energy drinks are a very acquired taste and unique one-off brands are rarely sought after. The Bob Ross Energy Drink is actually good enough that people choose to order them in large numbers to get all the flavors. People on the Vat19 site have asked if the energy drink will make them paint better or if the drink tastes like paint. The company has replied that the energy drink tastes like an energy drink and that it might help you to stay up long enough to learn to paint like Bob Ross.

The site offers the option to ask questions, which means that you can actually inquire about specifics of the drink in this way and you might get your question answered publicly in the FAQ section.

Pictures

Commercials:

Another ad for the drink that was placed on YouTube:

Bob Ross Energy Drink Taste Test:

An unboxing video that includes Bob Ross Energy Drink: