Monster is an insane energy drink brand. They produce nine different styles of their Monster energy drinks for the American market alone, where each style has its own selection of different flavors. The drinks are often pretty high in caffeine, making them excellent for an energy kick. That’s not even counting all of the discontinued drinks and the versions from other countries.
Monster also has the habit of regularly discontinuing products, changing formulas, and creating new ones. So, it’s hardly surprising that there are plenty of rare Monster energy drinks. This is something people get surprisingly passionate about, to the extent of collecting them, showcasing them on Instagram, and even selling them on eBay.
Many of these are discontinued products, including ones that were only sold in limited runs. Others have unusual can designs or simply aren’t sold in many places.
For this list, we’re focusing on cans that are rare in the United States. Most are impossible to find in local stores, although there are a few exceptions. Remember that rarity does vary by location and over time, so it’s impossible to ever have a complete list.
The Rarest Monster Energy Drinks (With Pictures!)
Killer-B Nitrous
Some Instagrammers don’t just collect rare Monster cans, they also focus on artistic photography. That’s exactly what’s happened here, where the can is balanced out by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey whiskey and some actual honey.
There are two versions of the drink. The newer formulations have Extra Strength Nitrous Technology written on the label, while older ones don’t. Not surprisingly, the older cans are rarer, although Killer-B has been discontinued, so both versions are worth looking out for.
Java Monster Russian
This drink was part of Monster’s Java lineup. The Java products aren’t traditional energy drinks at all. Instead, they’re mostly a combination of coffee and cream, with an added energy blend from Monster that’s meant to make them even more powerful.
The Russian version had a red and yellow themed label, with a stylized ‘Russian’ at the top. The drink itself was meant to be modeled after the white Russian cocktail, although there wasn’t any vodka in it (you could add vodka if you wanted, which apparently gives you a delicious cocktail).
The flavor was discontinued back in 2007, so it’s pretty difficult to find these days. This is a shame, as the flavor as better than many of the current Monster Java versions.
Projekt Revolution Tour Linkin Park
The can design makes this particular Monster truly amazing. The front of the can looks completely normal, while the back showcases the style and themes of Linkin Park.
The name comes from Linkin Park’s Project Revolution, which was a music festival that ran from 2002 to 2008, then again in 2011. The can from this video is dated as being from 2008, but it’s not clear whether this was the only year they released the can or whether there were others.
There’s an even more fascinating thing about this drink – the can doesn’t seem to be a traditional Monster energy drink at all. It’s called Tour Water instead. The side of the can says that it contains Ultra Purified Water.
This is a slightly strange idea, given that Monster doesn’t normally sell water. But, creating a product like this allows them to sponsor events that they wouldn’t normally be a part of.
Regardless, the can was a very limited time-specific release. It’s not surprising that it’s very rare these days and is seen as a collector’s item.
Monster Rehab Tea Pink Lemonade
This version of Monster is less rare than some others on this list. You can even still find it in some local stores. Still, it’s rare enough to be sought after.
The drink has many appealing features, including a well-balanced flavor, relatively low sugar content, and the fact that it is still rather than sparkling. The flavor is mostly that of pink lemonade. You can taste the tea as well, but this is more subtle than you might expect.
X-Presso Midnite
This 2010 Monster drink came with a stunning can. The black, yellow, and red all work well together, creating a drink that stands out on the shelf (and in anyone’s collection).
The drink itself was a little like the Monster Javas that you see today, which means it featured coffee and an energy blend. The combination is meant to provide a bigger energy hit than coffee alone. This was a popular flavor that lived up to the hype, but has since been discontinued.
X-Presso Hammer
This version of Monster had a lot in common with Midnite, including the use of espresso and an energy blend. Midnite was the creamier of the two and was a little sweeter as well. As such, it was a better drink for many coffee novices.
In contrast, Hammer had a stronger coffee flavor. It may have been the perfect choice for anyone who already loved the taste of coffee.
Both Hammer and Midnite are now discontinued. Monster decided to pivot away from their X-Presso line entirely and just focus on their Java products.
Strawberry Muscle
Combining an energy drink and protein shake is an unusual idea, but Monster hasn’t shied away from it at all. Instead, they have this – their Strawberry Muscle Monster.
There are two main styles to watch out for. One, as pictured, has a pink-red mottled background, with the classic Monster ‘M’ in white.
The other is older and rarer, with a basic pink-red can, white overlay, and the Monster ‘M’ in red. This version is sometimes listed on eBay for around $100 USD. Of course, the price doesn’t mean that the can is actually worth that much. Some sellers are just extremely optimistic.
Monster Ripper
Monster Ripper is an interesting case. The flavor is certainly uncommon and may even be rare. But, it’s not as unusual as many of the other products. It even regularly turns up at dollar stores throughout the country.
The drink is just unusual enough to spark interest though. Some people even buy Ripper locally and try to sell it online, before realizing that the demand simply isn’t there.
There are two styles of can. The first one has a yellow background and the yellow Monster M on top. The other has a black background instead. The black and yellow versions are harder to find and may have a different formula than the yellow-on-yellow ones.
Monster M-80
This was an earlier version of Monster, one that later got replaced by Ripper. There are many similarities between the two, including the use of tropical juices like pineapple, guava, and passionfruit. Even the early versions of the cans were almost identical.
However, they’re not the same drink at all. Monster kept the same theme, but made some dramatic changes. In particular, Ripper includes orange juice and lemon juice, which were never present in M-80. The juice content has also been decreased from 80% to 20%, creating a completely different experience.
Java Chai Hai
We mentioned Java Russian earlier. Java Chai Hai was another entry in the Java range that was discontinued. It’s one of the hardest versions of Monster to find, but some people have held onto cans for years and years.
As the name suggests, this Java drink attempted to replicate the flavors of chai tea. Well, it was more like a chai tea latte from a chain store than true Chai tea, but you get the picture.
One reviewer mentioned that the drink had a strange aftertaste. Then again, he was drinking a can nine years after it expired, so that aftertaste probably wasn’t meant to be there.
Monster Hydro Mean Green
The Monster Hydro range focuses on combining hydration and energy. The line is still going strong, including entries like Tropical Thunder, Blue Ice, and Killer Kiwi. However, the clear Mean Green isn’t nearly as common. It might even be discontinued entirely.
While some of the new versions have similar flavors and ingredients, the old ones are still sought after. The pictured version is from Germany, but there were American hydro Mean Greens as well.
Cuba Libra
The Cuba Libra was designed as a non-alcoholic energy drink that mimicked the flavor of a rum and coke. It was mostly sold in the Japanese market, although some people imported it to the United States.
Honestly, it’s a shame more of these fun Monster flavors aren’t around. Even the Japanese version seems to be discontinued now, making this a tricky drink to find anywhere.
Cuba Lima
Then there’s this one. Monster’s Cuba Lima was the American version of the Cuba Libra from above. It was an incredibly popular flavor, one that’s sorely missed by many Monster fans.
The flavor has been discontinued, apparently because it had a very high acid content and ended up leaking through the cans. Of course, that reason for discontinuation could just be an urban myth. Monster is rarely up front about why they stop making some flavors, so fans just end up making wild guesses about why their favorites are no longer avaliable.
Monster Unleaded
Monster Unleaded was different than any of the other drinks on this list – as it was an entirely caffeine free energy drink. It still had other parts of the energy formula, just no caffeine.
Caffeine free energy drinks are rare and Monster Unleaded was exceptional because it still tasted just like a regular energy drink. This was a fantastic feature, as some people find they can no longer consume caffeine, but miss the flavor of energy drinks.
Unfortunately, Monster Unleaded was discontinued back in 2014. It’s not clear why Monster discontinued the drink, as it was certainly popular. There’s still demand for it and no company has managed the caffeine free energy drink idea nearly as well as Monster.
Java Lo-Ball
Lo-Ball was part of Monster’s Java lineup, which means it was a combination of coffee and an energy blend.
It never received exceptional reviews, with many people reporting that the flavor was odd and really not appealing. In fact, the artificial sweeteners dominated the flavor profile. They even stood out more than the coffee, making for an awful balance.
The main selling point was that the drink was low in everything, including calories and sugar. This could have made it an excellent drink for anyone on a diet. But, in practice, the unappealing flavor created a drink that was difficult to enjoy.
Java Vanilla Light
Vanilla Light is another entry in the Java line that isn’t easy to find. Some reports suggest that Monster discontinued the product due to the presence of metal. It’s tough to know whether that’s true or not, as Monster hasn’t even confirmed whether the drink is discontinued.
Regardless, if you want to try this Monster, you’ll probably need to buy from collectors on eBay. You could get lucky in local stores, but don’t hold your breath.
Vanilla Light and Lo-Ball look similar and seem to have been variations on the same recipe (with Vanilla Light replacing Lo-Ball). Monster does this sometimes, where a significant formula change is accompanied by a name change as well.
Hitman
This one is a little different, as it’s an energy shot – something that Monster hasn’t done very often. As expected, the drink offers a concentrated hit of energy and flavor.
The drinks were popular enough when they first came out, but Monster discontinued them in the mid-2000s. This isn’t surprising really, as while some people enjoyed the drinks, they never really stood out.
After all, there are already plenty of energy shots on the market and they’re not really that different from each other.
Energy Dub
Monster Energy Dub seems to still be available, although it’s hard to come by and many stores don’t stock it. Monster really went all out on the can for this one, creating a version that truly looks amazing.
The flavor isn’t incredibly exciting. It’s most like the original Monster flavor, with a little grape flavor. But, notably, this Monster is much sweeter than most others. The sweetness can get overwhelming, especially if you’re not a fan of overly sweet drinks.
Heavy Metal
Monster Heavy Metal had a fantastic can design and was a tasty drink in its own right, with tropical flavors like guava and passionfruit at the forefront of the flavor profile.
Well… some people thought it was tasty anyway. Reviews for this particular Monster are all over the place, with descriptions of the flavor varying dramatically. Such reviews might be why Monster chose to discontinue it.
We can’t really know though, as Monster gives very little away. Sometimes they even feature discontinued cans on their site for years. One might even imagine that they’re trying to confuse their customers.
Black and White Monster Energy Assault
Monster Energy Assault normally has a camo design with green and brown shapes. This Canadian version is completely different, offering a type of black and white pixelated design instead.
There’s one thing to note though – Monster has played around with their Assault formulation over the years. Many reviewers loved the original flavor and find that the new one is absolutely awful. Hopefully this black and white version follows the old formula, but that seems unlikely. It’s probably the same modern flavor that many people are disgusted by.
Dragon Tea
Monster once had an entire line of Dragon Tea products, including Green Tea, White Tea, and Yerba Mate. There were all cold tea products that also featured an energy blend to give them an extra kick.
The drinks were popular not just for their flavor, but also for the cans, which look fantastic. The energy blend means that the drinks had a much higher caffeine kick than you normally get from tea.
Of course, the cans and formula have been through different iterations over the years, making some versions rarer than others
Punch Monster Mad Dog
Monster has a few different punch flavors. Their Punch Mad Dog version was interesting, to say the least. It had a strong artificial grape flavor – a little like Kool Aid or grape candy.
That description makes the drink sound incredibly unappealing. Yet, many people loved it. There are even calls for Monster to make the flavor again (although they’re unlikely to actually do so, the company doesn’t seem to listen to their fans at all).
The purple Monster Maxx has some of the same flavor profile, but it isn’t the same drink at all.
Black Ice Nitrous
Black Ice Nitrous was the hardest to find out of Monster’s Nitrous range, which is a shame, as the drink had plenty going for it, though, including a stunning can and a delicious raspberry flavor.
The other notable thing is the nitrous oxide. This really was an ingredient in the Nitro drink range. The nitrous oxide was meant to provide a distinct texture and perhaps even more energy. If nothing else, using nitrous certainly helped with Monster’s marketing. How many other energy drinks do this?
The product seems to have been discontinued now, making it even rarer. But, like many Monster drinks, there’s little definitive information about the status and a whole lot of guessing.
Mule
Monster Mule gets its name from the classic Moscow Mule cocktail, although Monster’s version is completely non-alcoholic. Just like the Moscow Mule, Monster Mule has a distinct ginger flavor, with a touch of lime.
There’s the classic energy blend in the mix too, which guarantees plenty of kick from the drink.
This drink isn’t officially discontinued, but it is difficult to find right now. One customer mentioned that Monster has paused production to catch up after the pandemic (presumably because other flavors are more popular than Mule). If this is true, it may mean that Monster Mule production picks up again in the future.
M100 Ghost
Monster M100 had an interesting 100 theme, including 100 mg of caffeine and 100% of the various B vitamins. The can design was strange too, as it focused on camouflage, even though the drink description didn’t talk much about camo at all.
There was a distinct orange taste to the flavor profile, coupled with an intense sweetness. Monster drinks are often sweet, but this one took things to a completely new level.
The flavor might be why Monster no longer produces this version. Yet, it remains highly sought after though and is getting rarer as time goes on.
Lewis Hamilton
This Monster drink also goes by the name LH44. It’s not so rare right now, as it was recently re-released. However, it is a limited edition flavor, so it’s likely to become more sought after as time goes on.
The new and old versions of this drink differ slightly in their design. The older versions have three stars near the base, while the modern ones feature six stars instead.
The current release is meant to have a peach nectarine flavor (or perhaps blue grape – there’s lots of conflicting information out there), although some people say that it tastes more like a tootsie roll instead.
Ultra Violet
Not surprisingly, this was a grape-flavored version of Monster. The grape wasn’t overwhelming though. There was just enough of it to make the drink interesting and well rounded.
The Ultra drinks are popular because they offer a decent energy kick without any sugar. You’ve often looking at just 10 calories for the entire drink, which is seriously impressive.
Because Ultra Violet was only recently discontinued, it isn’t as rare as many others on this list. You can even still find 24-packs on Amazon. Give it time though. This was a popular flavor, so demand is likely to stay high for a while, even as supply dwindles.
Ultra Citron
Here’s another entry in the Monster Ultra line. In fact, most of the original Ultra drinks have now been discontinued or under threat of discontinuation. It’s a pity really, as many people did love these flavors (there are new entries, like Monster Ultra Gold, Monster Ultra Paradise and the like, but they’re not the same).
As the name suggests, this was a citrus-flavored monster. It even tasted a little like sparkling lemonade.
Some reviewers did mention that the sweetener got in the way here. This is often the case with low calorie drinks, as it can be tough to completely mask the sweetener.
Phantom
Like Ghost, Monster Phantom was tagged as M-100, which should mean that it contained 100 mg of caffeine, rather than the normal 160 mg. The drink had an orange and citrus flavor, a little like Fanta but with a distinctive sour edge .
The drink has been completely discontinued for years now, so you probably won’t see it in stores at all. Collectors still have cans that they hoard, trade, and occasionally sell, but that’s about it.
Pacific Punch Juice Monster
Pacific Punch is a fruit juice Monster, one that’s still in production. It can be difficult to find though, as limited stores stock it and it often sells out.
That said, there’s some debate about the flavor (isn’t there always?). While many people do enjoy Pacific Punch, some people absolutely loathe the flavor instead.
Swiss Chocolate Java Monster
Finally, there’s this beauty. It was part of the Java line, making it a coffee-based drink. This time there’s a hit of chocolate too, giving you a mocha flavor. Some reviewers mentioned that the flavor was much better than regular mocha Javas.
Cases like this make me wonder about Monster. The company seems to keep going with some flavors that people don’t like, but regularly discontinues fan favorites. Perhaps it’s all a numbers game and simply comes down to profit margins. Who can really say?
Leave a Reply