Dutch Bros Rebel Drink Recipe
Soda · 2025-05-13 · 5 min read · by Emily
Dutch Bros Rebels are basically their version of an energy drink mixed with flavored syrup — think Red Bull Italian soda but better. They use their own proprietary Rebel energy base (similar to Monster or Rockstar in caffeine content) and then customize it with any flavor combination you want. The result is a sweet, fizzy, caffeinated drink that tastes nothing like a typical energy drink.
The good news: you can make a very close version at home for a fraction of the drive-through price. The base is just an unflavored energy drink plus Italian soda syrups. Once you understand the formula, you can recreate any Rebel flavor they offer.
The Base Formula
1 can unflavored or lightly flavored energy drink (Monster Ultra Zero, Celsius, or Red Bull Sugar Free all work — you want the carbonation and caffeine without strong existing flavor). 2-3 tablespoons flavored syrup (Torani or Monin — this is where the flavor comes from). Ice to fill the cup. Optional: splash of half-and-half or coconut milk for a "Blended Rebel" style.
How to Make It
Fill a large cup (24 oz is standard Dutch Bros size) with ice. Pour the flavored syrup over the ice. Slowly pour the energy drink over the top — pour gently to keep the carbonation. Stir once or twice gently. That's it.
For a blended version: add the energy drink, syrup, and ice to a blender. Blend until slushy. Pour into your cup and top with a splash of half-and-half if you want the creamy version.
Popular Flavor Combinations
Electric Berry (their most popular): 1 tbsp blue raspberry syrup + 1 tbsp lime syrup + splash of coconut syrup. Gives you that bright blue color and sweet-tart flavor.
Peach Ring: 2 tbsp peach syrup + 1 tbsp vanilla syrup. Tastes exactly like the candy.
Shark Attack: 1 tbsp blue raspberry syrup + 1 tbsp lime syrup + 1 tbsp coconut syrup + splash of grenadine on top. The grenadine sinks and creates the "blood in the water" look.
Palm Beach: 1 tbsp passion fruit syrup + 1 tbsp mango syrup + splash of coconut syrup. Tropical without being too sweet.
Aftershock: 1 tbsp blackberry syrup + 1 tbsp raspberry syrup + 1 tbsp lime syrup. Dark purple and intensely berry-forward.
Choosing the Right Energy Drink Base
The key is finding something with carbonation and caffeine but minimal flavor of its own. Monster Ultra Zero (white can) is the closest to Dutch Bros' actual Rebel base — it's lightly sweet, fizzy, and doesn't taste strongly of anything specific.
Red Bull Sugar Free works but has a more noticeable energy-drink taste that can compete with delicate flavors like vanilla or coconut. Celsius is good if you want a cleaner ingredient list but has less carbonation.
Avoid anything with strong citrus or berry flavoring already in it — you want a blank canvas for your syrups.
Make It a Cocktail
Add 1.5 oz vodka (plain or flavored to match your syrup choice) to the base before adding the energy drink. Tito's works for a neutral base; Deep Eddy peach vodka with the Peach Ring combo is dangerously good.
Warning: mixing caffeine and alcohol hits differently than either one alone. The caffeine masks how drunk you're getting. Keep it to one or two and drink water between rounds. This isn't a responsible-drinking lecture — it's just physics.
Cost Comparison
A large Rebel at Dutch Bros runs $5-7 depending on your location and add-ons. Making it at home: a can of Monster Ultra is about $2, and a bottle of Torani syrup ($8) makes roughly 25 drinks. That puts your homemade version at about $2.30 per drink — less than half the drive-through price.
Buy your syrups in bulk online (Torani sells variety packs) and keep 3-4 flavors on hand. You'll never wait in the Dutch Bros line again.