6 Best Optimum Nutrition Flavors 2024: Personally Taste Tested

A solid whey protein is a great way to increase your protein intake. Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey is among the most popular protein powders on the market. And for good reason: It’s inexpensive, it combines three kinds of whey — concentrate, isolate, and hydrolysate — and we love its label accuracy assurance from third-party testing. But how does the stuff taste? With so many flavors to choose from, it’s an important question, because even the most protein-packed powder in the world won’t help if it tastes awful. Having the best-tasting protein powders makes a difference, and we’re here to find the best Optimum Nutrition flavor.

While this protein isn’t overly expensive ($33.99 per container), you probably don’t want to buy each and every flavor to find your favorite. Our team of BarBend experts is here to help solve that issue. We’ve tried every single Gold Standard Whey flavor (that’s 18 products tested, not to mention the 100+ protein powders we’ve tried overall using our supplement testing methodology). Let’s dive into the winners.

The 6 Best Optimum Nutrition Flavors of 2024

• Best Overall Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Optimum Nutrition Extreme Milk Chocolate
• Best Vanilla Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Optimum Nutrition Vanilla Ice Cream
• Best Peanut Butter Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Best Dark Horse Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Optimum Nutrition Rocky Road
• Most Controversial Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Optimum Nutrition Cookies & Cream

Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.

Best Optimum Nutrition Video Review

While we still want you to read our more in-depth written review of the best Optimum Nutrition whey flavors, we get that some people prefer visuals. Check out our thorough video, put together by former BarBend editor Nick English, on our favorite Gold Standard Whey flavors, including their benefits and drawbacks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uo5H-VKwSI

[Related: Best Clean Protein Powders]

Best Overall Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Extreme Milk Chocolate

Pros

This flavor mixed well in water and maintained its rich flavor.

For those who like chocolate, this one is like taking a bite into a chocolate bar.

We love the sweeter taste to this one — perfect for dessert after a meal.

Cons

Not all athletes love chocolate flavors.

This one didn’t have a deep cocoa taste — it was more like candy.

When comparing all the Optimum Nutrition, Extreme Milk Chocolate was our number one.
We compared this flavor to Double Rich Chocolate, which tastes like a spoonful of plain cocoa — some may like that, though. Extreme Milk Chocolate tastes sweeter and richer. 

After mixing the flavor with both milk and water, we were happy to find that they both taste delicious. No matter the base, Extreme Milk Chocolate maintains its decadent flavor, unlike some of the other flavor options. We also didn’t notice any separation, which is a huge plus. All of our testers give it a 5 out of 5 for solubility, no exceptions.

If you are in a bulking phase and intend to throw back your protein shakes with whole milk, similar to the diet strongman Hafthor Björnsson followed in his prime, then, by all means, hit up the Double Rich Chocolate. Otherwise, do your taste buds a favor with Extreme Milk Chocolate.

And don’t worry — this protein powder can definitely help you out with your muscle gain goals. According to registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, there’s a great spread of protein here to help you out. “Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard protein powder is a blend of three types of whey protein, providing a good ratio of macronutrients for optimal muscle growth.”

Read our full Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein Review.

Best Vanilla Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Vanilla Ice Cream

Pros

This vanilla is sweet and fully flavored — it doesn’t go thin when mixed with liquid.

Vanilla Ice Cream maintained its richness even when mixed with water.

This one really tasted like ice cream, not artificial vanilla flavoring.

Cons

As with vanilla-flavored anything, this option isn’t as rich as chocolate.

There are more unique flavors to choose from.

Here at BarBend, we know our way around the best whey protein powders. We also know our way around one of the classics: vanilla. It’s a staple flavor — it mixes well with other ingredients in a smoothie and can even add some sweetness to plain Greek yogurt or oatmeal. But considering Optimum Nutrition makes several vanilla flavors (French Vanilla Creme and Vanilla Ice Cream), we had to give both a try.

After a few sips, we thought French Vanilla Crème was fine. We worked our way through a tub of it and while we didn’t hate it, once again, we found it too mild. It does a decent job of flavoring your milk but in water, it doesn’t exactly stand out.

On the other hand, the Vanilla Ice Cream has a richer, more robust, and sweeter flavor that does indeed taste like melted-down vanilla ice cream. Other customers love the richness, too. “I got the Vanilla Ice Cream one and it is delicious,” one five-star reviewer writes. “[It] blends well — I usually use my immersion blender, but it does OK just being shaken!” Our testers agree, all ranking this at a 5 out of 5 for mixability.

There are no artificial-tasting ingredients, which is a must-have with vanilla. Chances are we can all agree that’s the best way to eat vanilla. Now, it’s important to note — as explained by registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, that this product “also uses artificial flavorings, which is a turn-off for some.” (That’s especially true if sucralose doesn’t agree with your stomach.) But, importantly, our taste tests suggest that you won’t get any gross artificial aftertaste with this Vanilla Ice Cream flavor, which is critical for a great drinking experience.

Best Peanut Butter Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Chocolate Peanut Butter

Pros

The Chocolate Peanut Butter elevates the simple PB flavor, for a richer shake.

This one mixed well with both milk and water without separating.

The chocolate saves the flavor from tasting a little bland.

Cons

This one tasted a little denser/heavier than other flavors.

Those allergic to nuts should steer clear.

There’s a reason why peanut butter cups are the superior chocolate (at least in our opinion) — It’s hard to go wrong with Chocolate Peanut Butter flavors. Chocolate and peanut butter are just a wonderful pairing and whey protein powder is no exception. Peanut butter alone is delicious, don’t get us wrong, but the spread isn’t exactly sweet. And a savory whey protein powder doesn’t sound…ideal.

Optimum Nutrition’s CPB flavor hits the perfect balance between the two flavors. And customers definitely seem to think so. “The Chocolate Peanut Butter is my favorite,” one five-star reviewer writes. “It’s like indulging in a tasty snack while my body is using it to support muscle recovery.” Sounds like a 5 out of 5 to me.

In our experience, if the chocolate part is too bland, the peanuts come to the rescue, and that’s why we loved Gold Standard Whey’s CPB flavor — nice and creamy in milk, and roasted peanutty in water. Plus, anyone chasing hypertrophy will love that this flavor packs a walloping 33 grams of protein into each scoop — talk about one of the best protein powders for muscle gain! 

According to registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard (CPB-style) can help you get those hypertrophy dreams. “Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard protein powder earns a 4 out of 5 for its formulation, with high marks for its macro ratio and deductions for the unspecified protein blend and artificial ingredients.” What does she mean about the blend? She explains: “It’s interesting that Optimum Nutrition uses a blend of whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and hydrolyzed whey protein for its Gold Standard Formula. It would be nice to know how much of each type of protein is included in the blend.”

Best Underrated Optimum Nutrition Flavor: White Chocolate

Pros

Although it’s not as popular, White Chocolate is perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

This one can mix well with either water or milk.

You can blend this powder with vegetables or fruit for a low-key added sweetness.

Cons

White chocolate isn’t for everyone — it doesn’t taste like cocoa-flavored chocolate.

This only comes in a 5-pound tub.

The thing with White Chocolate is that this flavor is a bit more expensive to produce, so it’s only available in the larger five-pound tubs. That means a lot of people overlook it, so we consider it the most underrated flavor.

Clearly, we have sweet teeth, so if you don’t like sweeter snacks — or white chocolate in real life — then you won’t be so crazy about this flavor. But we love the flavor and versatility. White chocolate is sweet but doesn’t have a super distinct flavor like, say, peanut butter. So, it can add some sweet flavor to foods or shakes that include savory vegetables. 

According to our testers, you can toss this in with milk or water to vary it up even more. Want a thinner drink? “Opt for water if you don’t mind or even want something pretty thin,” one of our testers suggests. “Whatever you mix it with, including in a smoothie with other foods, you’ll likely rank it how I do: a 5 out of 5 for solubility.”

[Related: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Plant-Based Protein Review — Do Gums Matter?]

Best Dark Horse Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Optimum Nutrition Rocky Road

Pros

This unique flavor combines chocolate and cherry, which isn’t too common.

Compared to other chocolate varieties, this one has a richer, less sweet flavor.

The flavor is rich enough to stand alone — you don’t need milk or other ingredients.

Cons

Those with a sweet tooth may want a more sugary flavor.

The cherry is pretty distinct, which isn’t for everyone.

This is the dark horse: The unexpected front runner, the one nobody saw coming. Rocky Road, of course, is chocolate and marshmallows combined. Optimum Nutrition combines the flavor of chocolate with pink marshmallows for their own, unique Rocky Road product. For those not in the know, pink marshmallows taste a bit like maraschino cherries. 

The outcome is a delightful chocolate-cherry flavor that manages to be compelling without being too strong or too sweet. While we were pretty fascinated with this unique option, it’s definitely not for everyone. So, if you don’t enjoy the taste of cherry, it’s best that you try another product while getting your whey protein fix.

Just because it’s called Rocky Road doesn’t mean it doesn’t mix well, though. One of our expert testers says, “Optimum Nutrition products pretty much always dissolve really well. A 5 out of 5 for sure: just toss it in a blender bottle with almond milk, shake, and enjoy.”

“There’s no getting bored with the taste of this protein powder,” remarks registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois. But she notes that the tummy taste doesn’t take away from the excellent potential health benefits. “You get a whole lot of protein with every scoop, including a good amount of BCAAs and EAAs, and it’s low in carbs,” she explains. “Plus, I love that it’s third-party tested.”

Most Controversial Optimum Nutrition Flavor: Cookies & Cream

Pros

This one definitely tastes like Cookies & Cream, which some will love.

It has a bit of a salty aftertaste, which some of our testers enjoyed.

It’s one of the better Cookies & Cream options, compared to other supplement companies.

Cons

This flavor has pretty mixed reviews, which is a risk.

Although it’s better than competitors, it still doesn’t quite nail the Cookies & Cream flavor.

No matter where you look for advice about protein powder flavors, you’ll likely hear a myriad of opinions about Cookies & Cream. Practically every company tries their hand at it and a lot of them fail, producing bizarrely salty, chocolate-vanilla combinations that just don’t really hit the mark.

Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Casein is guilty of this with their attempt, but the Gold Standard Whey retooled its formulation a couple of years back to make a pretty good pick. We tried this one, and the result has been pretty evenly split — about 50% loving it and 50% hating it. Try it if you don’t mind a flavor-palate gamble. One of our testers fell right in the middle themself: “I didn’t love it or hate it, but it certainly wasn’t bad. I’m not a fan of the little crunchies that tend to come with Cookies N Cream flavors, and I didn’t like them here either even though Optimum Nutrition is a big part of my supplement rotation. It’s also a little more milky than I wanted it to be. Still, it gets a 3 out of 5 overall.”

There won’t really be a gamble about the quality of the protein itself, though. This powder is third-party tested for quality and to ensure that it doesn’t contain banned substances. And according to registered dietitian Austin Bou, whey protein packs in a whole lot of quality. “Whey is a fast-digesting milk protein that offers the most benefits when consumed post-workout.” So queue this one up for a nice post-workout supplement party in your shaker bottle.

How We Tested and Chose the Best Optimum Nutrition Flavors

When it comes to flavor profiling, we tried our best to stay as unbiased as possible, putting our personal preferences aside. We consider what an athlete who likes a particular flavor would want to get from their whey. For instance, does the peanut butter taste like a spoonful of Skippy or does it taste artificial? Here are all the factors that we take into account every time we take the best protein powders out for a spin (which, let’s be honest, is pretty often).

• Water vs. Milk: Not all athletes are fans of mixing their milk with whey. Plus, in our experience, milk (especially two percent or whole milk) can add a lot of richness to a protein powder, elevating the overall flavor. So, to get an objective taste, we ranked our flavors based on how they tasted only with water.
• Aftertaste: No one wants a delicious flavor at the start of a sip only to be left with a weird flavor lingering afterward. And considering whey protein is derived from dairy, the aftertaste can be pretty gnarly with some products. We chose powders that delivered a delightful first sip, all the way to the bottoms-up finish.
• Solubility: Not everyone has enough time to blend their protein powder into a shake. For most, throwing a scoop into a shaker bottle is the typical go-to. So, we wanted to prioritize flavors that mix well in water without a whole blender doing the work. We kept an eye out for floaties or separation as we sipped one flavor to the next.

Benefits of the Best Optimum Nutrition Flavors

Sure, it’s not all about taste…but also, it kind of is. The best ingredients in the supplement world won’t get you anywhere if they’re too gross to taste — how much protein you need daily matters less in the long run if getting there is a horrible chore. Here are a few of the key benefits of trying out these awesome flavors.

• Protein may be able to keep you fuller for longer, so upping your protein intake with protein powder — while it shouldn’t replace your whole-food journey — is a great way to ensure you’re getting what you need for health maintenance and muscle building.
• These Optimum Nutrition flavors don’t just taste great — they’re packed with a variety of types of whey protein, which is known for helping boost muscle recovery and growth after strength training. (2) The flavors we chose here aren’t just yummy. They’ve also all got between 31 and 33 grams of high-quality protein to help you achieve your goals.
• For people who aren’t quite lactose intolerant but don’t handle lactose very well, you might want to try a whey protein powder if you’re not quite ready to enter the wild (and wonderful!) world of the best vegan protein powders. That’s because whey protein powders are processed in such a way that they generally contain less lactose than regular old milk or yogurt. (3)
• Research suggests that if you take pleasure in what you eat, you’re more likely to eat in a healthy way — yes, you read that right. (1) Enjoyment plays a big role in dietary adherence, so if you need to stick to your protein intake goals, it helps a lot if you love what you’re eating (or drinking). 

How Much Do the Best Optimum Nutrition Flavors Cost?

Ready for a bunch of hefty 5-pound tubs shipping your way? Here’s what prices you can expect. Remember that different flavors can go on sale at different times, too, so keep an eye out for discounted prices when you shop.

The prices listed here may reflect this dynamic, and keep in mind that different flavors have different amounts of servings per tub.

Best Overall Optimum Nutrition Flavor	Optimum Nutrition Extreme Milk Chocolate	$80.86
Best Vanilla Optimum Nutrition Flavor	Optimum Nutrition Vanilla Ice Cream	$81.25
Best Peanut Butter Optimum Nutrition Flavor	Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Peanut Butter	$84.46
Best Underrated Optimum Nutrition Flavor	Optimum Nutrition White Chocolate	$85.99
Best Dark Horse Optimum Nutrition Flavor	Optimum Nutrition Rocky Road	$83.99
Most Controversial Optimum Nutrition Flavor	Optimum Nutrition Cookies & Cream	$83.99

[Related: Best Protein Shakes]

What To Consider Before Buying the Best Optimum Nutrition Flavors

This took a whole lot of time and testing and tasting and anabolism to get right, but we’re confident in this list of the best and most underrated Gold Standard flavors. With that said, there are a few factors you may want to consider before you buy.

Cost Per Serving

First and foremost, sometimes the best protein powder is the one you can afford. All of the Optimum Nutrition choices we picked here land between $1.17 and $1.24 per serving, which isn’t too bad! You will have to pay a pretty penny upfront, though, because at 5 pounds per tub, you’ll be basically buying in bulk. But with flavors like these, that might just be worth it.

Read our full Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Isolate Review.

Flavor

This one might be a little obvious on a list like this, but we think it bears repeating: flavor is important.

You want to grab a protein powder you’ll keep coming back to day in and day out, something that will fuel you to keep up with your routine both fitness and nutrition-wise. These delicious protein powders can help you do just that.

Your Daily Diet

While your personal flavor preference is the most important factor in choosing your ideal Optimum Nutrition Flavor, don’t neglect your day-to-day eating habits. Do you like mixing your protein powder into yogurt or breakfast shakes? If that’s the case, the more unique flavors (like Rocky Road) may not be ideal.

Protein Timing

Also, think about when you like sipping your protein. If you like a shake in the morning but don’t want to overload your taste buds with sweetness, the White Chocolate may be overdoing it. Instead, opt for a milder Vanilla flavor.

Your Palate

Of course, sometimes it just all comes down to taste. While it’s optimal to arrange your supplement intake around your whole food intake rather than the other way around, sometimes you might find yourself craving a yummy high-protein snack.

With a tub of one of these powders in your cupboard, you won’t have to reach much farther than your shaker bottle.

Optimum Nutrition Flavors FAQs

References

1. Bédard, A., Lamarche, P. O., Grégoire, L. M., Trudel-Guy, C., Provencher, V., Desroches, S., & Lemieux, S. (2020). Can eating pleasure be a lever for healthy eating? A systematic scoping review of eating pleasure and its links with dietary behaviors and health. PloS one, 15(12), e0244292. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244292
2. West, D. W. D., Abou Sawan, S., Mazzulla, M., Williamson, E., & Moore, D. R. (2017). Whey Protein Supplementation Enhances Whole Body Protein Metabolism and Performance Recovery after Resistance Exercise: A Double-Blind Crossover Study. Nutrients, 9(7), 735. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9070735
3. Svanborg, S., Johansen, A. G., Abrahamsen, R. K., & Skeie, S. B. (2015). The composition and functional properties of whey protein concentrates produced from buttermilk are comparable with those of whey protein concentrates produced from skimmed milk. Journal of dairy science, 98(9), 5829–5840. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-9039