15 Easy 7 Brew Energy Drinks to Make at Home

Pop six tall glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes, or fill them with ice water and let them sit while you gather your syrups, since a cold glass keeps the energy drink base fizzy for longer once poured.

Fill each chilled glass roughly two-thirds full with ice cubes, about 65 g (3/4 cup) per glass, packing it in fairly tightly so the drink stays cold without diluting too quickly.

Use a well-chilled, lightly fizzy energy drink as your base, either a sugar-free citrus or white variety works best for letting fruit syrups shine through; keep the can or bottle in the fridge until the moment you pour to preserve maximum carbonation.

Into the first glass, add 15 ml (1 tbsp) strawberry syrup, 15 ml (1 tbsp) blue raspberry syrup and 15 ml (1 tbsp) coconut syrup over the ice, then top with 115 ml (about 1/2 cup) of energy drink and stir gently for 5 seconds until the colours swirl together.

In the second glass, layer 15 ml (1 tbsp) blue raspberry syrup with 15 ml (1 tbsp) coconut syrup and 15 ml (1 tbsp) peach syrup, top with 115 ml (about 1/2 cup) energy drink, and stir until the mixture turns a cloudy turquoise blue.

In the third glass, combine 15 ml (1 tbsp) pomegranate syrup with 15 ml (1 tbsp) strawberry syrup over ice, pour in 115 ml (about 1/2 cup) energy drink, and stir until the drink turns a deep ruby red with no streaks of syrup left at the bottom.

In the fourth glass, mix 15 ml (1 tbsp) pear syrup with 15 ml (1 tbsp) vanilla syrup over ice, top with 115 ml (about 1/2 cup) energy drink, and stir for 10 seconds so the vanilla fully dissolves without leaving a cloudy film on top.

In the fifth glass, use 30 ml (2 tbsp) sugar-free blackberry syrup (swap in sugar-free blue raspberry if blackberry is hard to find) over ice, top with 115 ml (about 1/2 cup) energy drink, and stir until fully combined and deep purple in colour.

In the sixth glass, blend 15 ml (1 tbsp) coconut syrup with 15 ml (1 tbsp) peach syrup and 15 ml (1 tbsp) pear syrup over ice, top with 115 ml (about 1/2 cup) energy drink, and stir until the tropical syrups are evenly distributed.

For a richer, dessert-style finish, slowly pour 15 ml (1 tbsp) half-and-half or coconut cream over the back of a spoon onto the Golden Pear and Tropic Thunder drinks so the cream sits as a pale layer on top rather than sinking straight in.

Dip a straw into each glass and taste; if a combination is too sharp, stir in an extra 5-10 ml (1-2 tsp) of the sweeter syrup in that mix, and if it tastes flat, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to lift the fruit notes.

If any glass has gone a little flat from stirring, top it up with an extra 15-30 ml (1-2 tbsp) of chilled energy drink poured gently down the side of the glass rather than directly onto the ice, which helps preserve the remaining fizz.

Add a fresh lime wedge to the rim or drop it into the Dragon's Blood and Ocean Breeze copycats, since the citrus oil released when you squeeze it adds a bright top note that balances the sweeter syrups.

Tuck a fresh mint sprig into the Tropic Thunder and Golden Pear glasses just before serving, gently clapping the leaves between your palms first to release their aroma without bruising them into the drink.

Serve all six copycat drinks straight away with a wide straw for stirring up the syrup that settles at the base, since the carbonation and vivid colour layering are both best within the first 5 minutes of building.