15+ Best Nootropic Drinks For Max Brainpower, Energy & Euphoria

Here’s something you should know…

Your brain can shift into a higher gear.

Whether you’re a competitive Type-A personality, or just looking for an edge, elite performers and Fortune 100 CEOs have a little secret: specially formulated brain-boosting drinks.

Benefits of popular nootropic drinks include:

• Boosting energy
• Enhancing memory
• Sharpening focus
• Increasing stamina
• Inducing calm and relaxation
• Clearing the mind
• Upgrading workouts
• Speeding up mental processing
• Increasing alertness
• Beating procrastination
• Ignoring distractions
• Tapping into the flow state (getting into “the zone”)

Sounds like a pipe dream. But try a high-quality brain-boosting drink and you’ll feel the effects within minutes. Unlike sugar-laden energy drinks, the top products don’t have the dreaded crash. Nor do they jack up your stress and hormones. In fact, nootropic drink formulas include ingredients that support your health even after the effects wear off.

Today, I’m reviewing the best nootropic drinks for energy, cognition, mood, productivity, and euphoria.

SnakeWater

Overview

Best For: Powerful physical and mental boost

Caffeine: 0mg

Servings: 4

SnakeWater is a powerful combination of many of the best body and brain-enhancing ingredients. This caffeine-free drink is the ultimate pre-work and pre-workout energy drink.

It’s got exogenous ketone salts and esters to provide your brain with a cleaner burning fuel source. A micro-dose of isomaltulose provides a slow bleed of muscle and hormone-protecting glucose. Then a gentle blend of stimulants lifts your energy, motivation, focus, productivity, and performance. The vitamins, minerals, and nutrient complex provides your biology with all the raw materials to sustain that state all day without crashing.

Making it an all-in-one performance drink.

Snakewater contains:

• 3,000mg KetoneAid BioBHB
• 3,000mg Isomaltulose
• 375mg BCAA 2:1:1
• 250mg Beta-Alanine
• 25mcg Huperzine-A
• 100mg L-Taurine
• 25mg Theacrine
• 65mg Dynamine
• 20mg L-Theanine
• 5mg Niacin
• 300mg N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine (NALT)

Buy SnakeWater for a well-formulated, strong, caffeine-free, all-in-one mental and physical performance boost.

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DrinkUpdate

Overview

Best For: Strongest yet clean energy drink

Caffeine: 0mg

Servings: 8

Paraxanthine is a molecular cousin of caffeine responsible for all of its benefits and virtually zero of its downsides. I began using it in early 2023 and haven’t looked back.

Although structurally paraxanthine is related to caffeine, they feel completely different. Paraxanthine feels light, clean, and clear-headed. It’s more motivating, focusing, and energizing than caffeine. It’s also easier on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. People that don’t do well with caffeine feel great on paraxanthine.

DrinkUpdate is quite possibly the cleanest energy drink available. This well-designed formula includes the best, most well-studied, and safe nootropics. They even bit the bullet and used the highest-quality sweeteners at their own expense.

I don’t consume energy drinks, but Update is an exception. Expect to see this drink everywhere in the coming years. Read my full paraxanthine energy supplement review to learn the science, benefits, and why it’s far superior to caffeine.

Buy DrinkUpdate’s paraxanthine energy drink to experience the cleanest and strongest caffeine-free boost available.

Get Update Paraxanthine Deal

Use exclusive DrinkUpdate code URBAN for 10% off

KetoneAid KE4

Overview

Best For: Healthy, neuroprotective, energetic buzz

Caffeine: 0mg

Servings: 9

This is the exact product used by Olympians, chess grandmasters, professional athletes, and other high-performers.

Aside from glucose (sugar), ketones are the only other fuel that the brain source that the brain can run on. They’re a steady source of clean energy. Interestingly, they generate fewer free radicals and thus support long-term optimal brain performance. Exogenous ketone supplements have a slew of powerful science-backed benefits:

• Accelerating weight loss by reducing appetite
• Enhancing brain function
• Boosting physical and mental energy
• Protecting the brain

Plus they’re great for the metabolism. Click here to learn more about the health benefits of ketone supplements.

You can either use the cheaper C8 MCT oil which boosts ketone levels by 15 percent. With most exogenous ketones, you only absorb about 50 percent. KetoneAid products contain bioidentical non-racemic ketones, increasing bioavailability to nearly 100 percent.

You won’t find many other nootropic drinks backed by a clinical study that showed increased physical performance and mental stamina.

Buy KetoneAid to enhance the function of your brain while increasing energy and physical performance simultaneously.

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Brain Juice

Overview

Best For: Natural nootropic smoothie

Caffeine: 75mg

Servings: 12

Brain Juice is a new and lesser-known addition to the nootropic drink scene using fresh, high-quality whole foods with a touch of the right nootropics. They’re the natural approach to energy and mental clarity. Drinks come in five flavors. Each of which is non-GMO, gluten-free, free of colorants or synthetic fillers, low-sugar, low-carb, Keto-friendly, BPA-free.

Brain Juice Active contains an impressive array of compounds:

1. Alpha-GPC
2. Acetyl-L-Carnitine
3. N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
4. L-Theanine
5. Vitamin C
6. Vitamin B5
7. Vitamin B6
8. Vitamin B12
9. Green Tea Extract
10. Organic Acai Berries
11. Organic Blueberries
12. Organic Beet Powder
13. Red Spinach Extract
14. Himalayan Pink Salt
15. Rhodiola
16. Ginger and Tumeric

These ingredients primarily boost two neurotransmitters. Learning and memory (acetylcholine). Healthy behavior, motivation, inspiration, focus, and drive (dopamine). As a bonus, you’ll blunt overstimulation, reduce nutrient deficiency, crush decision fatigue, and improve sleep. 

Brain Juice is the top natural nootropic drink pick.

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Alpha Brain Instant

Overview

Best For: Caffeine-free anti-aging blend

Caffeine: 0mg

Servings: 30

Alpha BRAIN® Instant is a powder supplement created by Onnit Labs. It is a caffeine-free, stimulant-free, non-GMO, gluten-free formula. Specially designed to boost your alpha brainwaves (see where the product gets its name?). Alpha brain waves increase productivity and keep you focused. This product supports healthy neurotransmitter production.

Alpha Brain Instant’s ingredients include:

1. Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine HCl)
2. L-Tyrosine
3. L-Theanine
4. Oat (straw) extract
5. Phosphatidylserine
6. Cat’s Claw (bark) extract (ac-11)
7. Alpha-GPC
8. Bacopa (aerial parts) extract
9. Huperzia serrata (aerial parts) extract
10. L-Leucine
11. Pterostilbene
12. Black Pepper (fruit) extract (BioPerine)
13. Organic Tea Leaf

Their blend improves memory, focus, mental processing, and the ability to “get in the zone”. Even among healthy users. Pour a packet into a liquid of your choosing. It comes in seven unique flavors and supports. A convenient and delicious alternative to the Alpha Brain capsules.

Alpha Brain is a popular portable nootropic powder gentle enough for everyday use.

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TruBrain

Overview

Best For: Powerful racetam-based nootropic

Caffeine: 100mg

Servings: 20

TruBrain is the product of a California-based startup that has been prominently featured in major media outlets. Formulated by a team of UCLA-trained neuroscientists, it comes in one-ounce shots. Designed to increase your verbal fluency, avoid distractions, and boost mental output. Or, in other words, get more done with less effort.

TruBrain contains a powerful concoction of nootropic ingredients:

1. Noopept – 20mg
2. ALCAR – 500mg
3. NALT – 350mg
4. Centrophenoxine – 250mg
5. Magnesium – 200mg
6. L-Theanine – 160mg
7. Uridine Monophosphate – 500mg
8. Caffeine (optional)

Few products list the exact dosages of both their nutrients and active nootropics. Though each sachet does contain four grams of sugar, it’s primarily sweetened with natural ingredients like monk fruit, mangosteen, and blue agave.

Whether used for calm focus, turbo-charged memory, or ridding brain fog, Hollywood Film Festival selected TruBrain as “The Juice That Fuels Creatives”.

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Mental Mojo

Overview

Best For: Pre-workout nootropic

Caffeine: 175mg

Servings: 30

Need “rocket fuel for your brain”? If exogenous ketone supplements don’t do the trick for you, Mental Mojo bills themselves as exactly that. They pride themselves as the only patent-pending nootropic drink designed by a Neurochemist. Mental Mojo makes the selection process simple, offering only one option. A package of sugar-free Kiwi Strawberry “sticks” (sweetened with stevia).

Their product is formulated in the USA and “tested on celebrities, not animals”. 

Mental Mojo’s nootropic ingredients include:

1. Vinpocetine
2. Phosphatidylserine
3. L-Tyrosine
4. Alpha GPC
5. Ginko Biloba
6. Turmeric
7. L-Citrulline
8. Huperzine-A
9. ALCAR
10. Green caffeine

Between the nootropics and 175mg of caffeine, normal effects include greater energy, deeper focus, mental clarity, and feeling mentally switched “on”. Just add 1 stick to 16 ounces of water. If you don’t love it, send it back within 30 days for a full refund.

Caffeine lovers who want a simple blend of nootropics will enjoy Mental Mojo.

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Neu Energy Shots

Overview

Best For: Extra-strength energy shot

Caffeine: 300mg

Servings: 12

With 300mg of caffeine, Neu is the strongest energy-based nootropic shot on the market. Far stronger than typical “extra-strength” energy shots. Crafted for highly active folks, ranging from athletes to musicians to world travelers. All five flavors contain zero sugar and zero carbs.

Neu Energy Shot Ingredients:

1. Niacin
2. Vitamin B6
3. Vitamin B12
4. Pantothenic Acid
5. NALT
6. ALCAR
7. Choline Bitartrate
8. Caffeine

Neu hides exact doses of their brain boosters behind a 1.705-gram “nootropic blend”. They do disclose that the drinks contain 300mg of caffeine and 250mg of L-Theanine to take off caffeine’s edge (and jitters).

Choose Neu if you’re looking for a potent, heavily caffeinated energy shot, and don’t mind the preservatives.

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Kimera Koffee

Overview

Best For: Nootropic coffee

Caffeine: Varies

Servings: 24

Kimera Koffee isn’t your typical cup of joe. They make original nootropic coffee products with different blends for every preference: original, dark, focus, K-Cups, amber, endurance, and even TOGO travel bags. Kimera sources high-quality beans from Brazil’s premier coffee plantations. All products are organic and the result of dozens of product iterations.

Kimera Koffee’s research-backed nootropic ingredients include:

1. L-Theanine
2. Taurine
3. Alpha GPC
4. DMAE

Though the added ingredients are simple, Kimera has amassed a 4.5-star rating from over 1,000 happy customers.

If you like the convenience of getting coffee and nootropics all-in-one, Kimera is the clear winner.

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Rasa Adaptogenic Coffee Alternative

Overview

Best For: Nootropic coffee alternative

Caffeine: 0mg

Servings: 30

I’m an advocate of taking a 10-14 day caffeine tolerance reset every quarter. While suffering through the decaffeinated period, I’m always on the lookout for satisfying coffee alternatives. Rasa has become the one-stop wellness apothecary — with taste. Their Original product is a blend of 12 potent organic herbs. Each cup produces mellow energy that lasts throughout the day (and is naturally caffeine-free).

Unlike coffee, you’ll also enjoy reduced stress, a mood lift, enhanced immunity, and increased libido. Leading to greater output and health.

Rasa Original Ingredients include:

1. Roasted chicory roots
2. Burdock roots
3. Dandelion roots
4. Eleuthero
5. Shatavari
6. He shou wu
7. Codonopsis
8. Chaga mycelium
9. Ashwagandha
10. Rhodiola
11. Ceylon cinnamon
12. Reishi extract

Brew your cup just like coffee, but steep for 10 minutes. You’ll get the best ingredients handpicked from Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, & Western Herbalism.

Rasa is the best herbal nootropic coffee alternative.

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CocoTropic Raw Cacao

Overview

Best For: Whole-food nootropic

Caffeine: 8mg

Servings: 32

Another great nootropic drink alternative, CocoTropic is 100% plant-based raw cacao. A nutritionally dense drink that supports immunity, blood flow, general health, cognition, and focus. Since its inception in 2016, CocoTropic committed to quality, testing every batch of raw material is quality tested for heavy metal and microbial contamination and purity. 

CocoTropic’s nootropic ingredients include:

1. Natural wild cacao powder
2. Reishi mushroom extract
3. Natural raw maca powder
4. Chaga mushroom extract
5. Natural turmeric

Expert artisan farmers have generations of experience growing the mushrooms CoCoTropic adds to all their products. These mushrooms come from China’s high-altitude mountainous regions. Consume CocoTropic as a coffee substitute, or add it to coffee, tea, smoothies, and shakes.

CocoTropic is the most versatile nootropic food or drink additive.

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FocusAID

Overview

Best For: Classic energy drink taste with strong nootropics

Caffeine: 100mg

Servings: 12

FocusAID is one of the biggest nootropic drink makers. They have different products for just about any situation. From excelling at golf, to increasing immunity, to recovering from a hangover. Even the FocusAID can feel remarkably similar to a certain popular energy drink.

FocusAID is an energy blend designed to increase mental acuity, focus, concentration, and memory. Its “fusion tea” taste comes at 45 calories per can, sweetened with 9 grams of raw organic blue agave.

FocusAid contains the following ingredients:

1. Vitamin C
2. Vitamin D
3. Full Vitamin B complex
4. Folic acid
5. GABA (for stress relief, focus, and clarity)
6. Rhodiola rosea (for concentration)
7. Alpha GPC (for memory and cognition)
8. American ginseng (for learning)
9. Acetyl-L-Carnitine (for neurotransmitter support).
10. Yerba mate
11. Green tea

Each can contains 100mg of caffeine, barely above average. FocusAID has been featured in 9 large publications.

When looking for a nootropic-boosted energy drink, try FocusAID.

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NeuroSONIC

Overview

Best For: Convenient nootropic drink

Caffeine: 100mg

Servings: 12

Neurobrands, the company behind neuroSONIC, is the oldest supplier of nootropic drinks. Since 2007, neuroSonic has introduced many skeptics to nootropics. It was the first nootropic drink I tried, and I found it easily. Physical retailers like Kroger, Walmart, Target, ShopRite, and of course, Amazon all carry Neurobrands products.

Though they claim that their product significantly increased energy, attention, and mood in a clinical trial, I couldn’t locate the study. 

NeuroSonic ingredients include:

1. Alpha GPC
2. L-Theanine
3. Vitamin D2
4. Vitamin B6
5. Vitamin B12
6. Goji
7. Pomegranate
8. Blueberry

This product is a good source of antioxidants, flavonoids, and polyphenols. From Goji, Pomegranate, and Blueberry to the natural caffeine in green tea and green coffee beans. Although they got the 2:1 caffeine-to-theanine ratio right (100mg to 200mg), I don’t like the 9 grams of sugar per serving. And the company has been involved in some litigation.

Choose neuroSonic when shopping for a nootropic drink in-store. 

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NERD Focus

Overview

Best For: Adaptogenic energy drink

Caffeine: 128mg

Servings: 12

The most recent entry to nootropic drinks, NERD Focus hit Amazon shelves in December of 2020. Already, it’s highly rated hovering at 4.8 stars. Think of NERD Focus as a typical energy drink lightly fortified with nootropics and adaptogens. The taste is somewhere between Mountain Dew and Jolly Ranchers (too sweet for me).

NERD Focus ingredients include:

1. DMAE
2. Ginkgo Biloba
3. Alpha GPC
4. GABA
5. Huperzine-A
6. Ginseng Extract
7. Guarana Seed Extract
8. Vitamin B2
9. Vitamin B3
10. Vitamin B6
11. Vitamin B12
12. Caffeine

128mg of caffeine is above average for a 12-ounce can. NERD Focus comes in original (170 calories per can and 42 grams of sugar) and zero. Original has far too much sugar for me, and Zero contains lots of preservatives.

If your priority is a nootropic and adaptogen-enhanced energy drink, and don’t mind sweet try NERD Focus.

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Sun Chaser

Overview

Best For: Relaxation and mood

Caffeine: 0mg

Servings: 12

Sun Chaser makes one single product. A healthy alternative to alcohol that produces a buzz without the hangover. It’s one of the two euphoria-inducing drinks on this list. The fruity flavor gives Sun Chaser a mocktail-in-a-can feel.

Sun Chaser ingredients include:

1. Calcium
2. Potassium
3. Vitamin C
4. Red Tart Cherry Concentrate
5. Lime Juice
6. GABA
7. Cordyceps Extract (Cordyceps sinensis)
8. L-Theanine
9. 5-HTP (Griffonia simplicifolia)
10. Himalayan Sea Salt

At 60 calories, 14 grams of carbs, and 13 grams of sugar, it’s a beverage best saved for special occasions. So far, Sun Chaser has been featured in Shape, Glamour, ThingTesting, and Product Hunt.

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Kin

Overview

Best For: Strongest mocktail

Caffeine: 50mg

Servings: 1

My favorite nootropic drink for euphoria, Kin has established itself as the premium choice. Everything from the product design, to the unique formula make the drink feel like an actual substitute for a $25 NYC cocktail.

Kin Spritz specifically enhances social situations by supporting key neurotransmitters in charge of mood, pleasure, and reward. Kin’s products include adaptogens, nootropics, botanics, and other compounds.

The full ingredients inside Kin Spritz include:

1. Niacin
2. Vitamin B6
3. Folate
4. Hibiscus Flower Extract
5. GABA
6. L-Theanine
7. Citicoline
8. 5-HTP
9. Rhodiola Rosea Extract
10. Phenylethylamine
11. L-Tyrosine
12. Licorice root extract
13. Bitter orange extract
14. Gentian root extract
15. Ginger extract
16. Caffeine

Spritz does include 5 grams of sugar, and 50 mg of caffeine for a “lifted mind, relaxed body, and kindred spirit”.

Buy Kin Euphorics for special occasions to replace a night of drinking.

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Nootropic Drink Questions & Answers

Nootropic Beverages to Maximize Energy, Brainpower, & Euphoria

The first and most powerful nootropic in the world is sound sleep, a clean diet, consistent exercise, and adequate recovery.

Once you master the basic, specific brain-boosting drinks can elevate your mental performance to its peak. Compared to pills and powders, drinks are a convenient and tasty replacement.

Certain beverage categories like nootropic coffee can make your life easier. No more wondering if you remembered to take your pile of compounds.

Others like natural nootropic smoothies get you nutrition and powerful cognitive enhancers all in one.

Energy drink lovers can rest assured that there are quality nootropic energy drinks that taste good without a mountain of sugar. Products that include adaptogens and nootropics, and support health (rather than detracting from it).

Do you have a favorite functional nootropic drink? Let me know in the comments below.