Clubgoers are looking to energy-drink-and-vodka cocktails for their caffeine fixes at East Valley nightspots.

In fact, the combination is the No. 1 drink choice of 21-to-30-year-old drinkers at Suede, according to Dan Wierck, bar manager of the downtown Scottsdale lounge.

“People want to be able to stay up and keep going with the nightlife and also have the effects of the alcohol with it,” he says.

Wierck says that patrons typically order Red Bull and vodka, or Socko — a new, green-colored energy drink on the market — mixed with a flavored vodka. Suede keeps 20 cases of Red Bull and nine cases of Socko on hand every week.

“Women like to mix Socko with Stoli Peach or Sky Melon,’’ Phoenix-based Socko creator Jordan Harwood says of the energy drink, which is available in eight western states. “Men prefer it with vodka or with a shot of Jager. They call it a Yoda Bomber over at the Devil House. That’s where the (bomber) was created.”

While Red Bull and vodka, a Britney Spears favorite, is more popular with clubgoers, Wierck says Socko is beginning to pick up steam.

“I think it will start catching on with more people,’’ he says. “Red Bull has more of a thick, overbearing taste compared to Socko. Socko has a thinner, lighter flavor. It also has more of a fruity taste and is friendlier to drink.”

Red Bull and Socko cocktails, which are $8 at Suede, may be an expensive indulgence, but clubgoers don’t seem to mind.

“It's alright if I have to dish out a few extra dollars on something that’s going to give me a caffeine fix,’’ says Suede customer Natalie Morrison, 28, of Scottsdale. “I like the Socko drinks. They're my savior on Fridays when I'm recovering from working all week and need a little something to keep me going until the bar closes.’’

And that’s why energy drinks are such hot commodities in the bars and clubs, Harwood says.

“People want to party longer,’’ he says. “They're in party mode and the whole goal is to keep the party going. Eighty percent of the people that are drinking these drinks are people who work 9-to-5 jobs. The weekend is their party time and they want to keep going and going. That’s half of it. The other half is that it’s a fad and it's in right now.’’