Starbucks has officially announced the launch of a special beverage to celebrate the recent victory of the New York Knicks, marking their first NBA Championship win in over half a century. The drink, named the New York Energy Refresher or “Bing Bong,” will be exclusively available in New York City on June 18, coinciding with the championship parade to honour the team’s achievement.
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The festive beverage is distinguished by its vibrant colours, designed to reflect the Knicks’ signature blue and orange. The base of the New York Energy Refresher consists of a Mango Strawberry Lemonade Energy Refresher, although it will not include strawberries. The drink is topped with a Blue Coconut Cream Cold Foam, resulting in a striking orange drink layered with a blue frothy topping.
Customers in New York City can conveniently order the New York Energy Refresher through the Starbucks app. Meanwhile, fans outside of the city can still partake in this limited-time offering by requesting a secret menu version at their local stores, specifically by asking for the aforementioned combination without strawberries. Notably, the drink can have customised energy levels, offering the option for a caffeine-free formulation.
The announcement has generated considerable excitement among Knicks supporters, particularly as the team triumphed on June 13, 2026. Social media platforms have been awash with enthusiastic comments from fans eager to try the new drink, reflecting their elation at the team’s historic win. One user encapsulated the sentiment perfectly, stating, “OOH!! GOTTA GET THAT ENERGY!!!💙💙💙,” while another said, “Energy and refreshment is what we need in this period! 💙🧡”.
Beyond the New York Energy Refresher, Starbucks has launched additional blue-themed drinks for the summer season. The introduction of the Blue Coconut Refresher and the Iced Blue Coconut Matcha on June 16 has further diversified the beverage selection. For each drink sold, 25 pence will be donated to Water.org’s Get Blue Initiative, which aims to improve access to clean water globally.
The Blue Coconut Refresher is a combination of coconut, strawberry, and acai flavours, shaken with blue spirulina and served over ice. It can be customised either as the Blue Coconut Lemonade Refresher or as the Ocean Drink, which includes coconut milk for an extra creamy texture. On the other hand, the Iced Blue Coconut Matcha blends the tropical mango flavour with earthy matcha, topped off with a delicate toasted coconut cold foam.
Initial taste tests of these new beverages suggest that the Blue Coconut Refresher, particularly with coconut milk, delivers a delightful balance between sweetness and tartness, while the Iced Blue Coconut Matcha successfully merges distinct flavours for a refreshing result.
Starbucks’ summer menu, launched on May 12, boasts an array of inventive drinks. Among these is the Tropical Butterfly Refresher, imbued with passionfruit and guava flavours, accented with mango-pineapple pearls, and its captivating purple hue derived from butterfly pea flower infusion. Additional highlights include the Iced Horchata Shaken Espresso, made with Starbucks Blonde Espresso and horchata syrup, along with a Horchata Frappuccino and the whimsical Unicorn Cake Pop.
This season’s offerings not only reflect Starbucks’ creativity but also its commitment to community initiatives and sustainability. With exciting new flavours and vibrant presentations, the coffee giant aims to entice customers while celebrating significant moments in sporting history. The New York Energy Refresher, along with the other summer drinks, exemplifies Starbucks’ ability to tap into local culture and fanfare.