WEIRD SODAS FROM OVER THE YEARS
On Monday, Mountain Dew announced the launch of Kickstart, its new soda for breakfast. But they’re not the only ones who have been, shall we say, “creative” with their drinks over the years. Here’s a peek at some of the soda industry’s more interesting attempts, from a Tab energy drink to a Pepsi that tastes like yogurt.
WEIRD SODAS FROM OVER THE YEARS
On Monday, Mountain Dew announced the launch of Kickstart, its new soda for breakfast. But they’re not the only ones who have been, shall we say, “creative” with their drinks over the years. Here’s a peek at some of the soda industry’s more interesting attempts, from a Tab energy drink to a Pepsi that tastes like yogurt.
Crystal Pepsi
Crystal Pepsi, which was a clear cola beverage, had a huge advertising campaign set to the tune of Van Halen’s hit “Right Now.” The soda got a lot of hype, but was ultimately rejected by consumers.
Rocket Fizz
Rocket Fizz, a small soda maker that operates a group of retail stores, has a number of wacky flavors, but the most outrageous may be Rocket Fizz Green Apple Jalapeno. The company describes this drink as “sweet and spicy” but you can try if for yourself by visiting one of the stores operated by this expanded chain.
Bacon soda
Also in the Rocket Fizz family is a line of sodas sold under the “Lester’s Fixins” and “Melba’s Fixins” brand names. These lines include Bacon Soda, Buffalo Wing Soda, and Sweet Corn Soda.
MTN Dew Kickstart
MTN Dew Kickstart is PepsiCo’s attempt to bring soda to breakfast. This “juice drink,” contains 5 percent juice and an extra jolt of caffeine and Vitamins B and C.
Jones Soda Holiday Packs
Jones Soda, a company that has built its reputation on wacky flavors, offered the Christmas and Hanukkah Holiday packs in 2010. The Christmas pack was made up of Sugar Plum, Christmas Tree, Egg Nog, and Christmas Ham flavors while the Hanukkah selection included Latke, Apple Sauce, Chocolate Coins, and Jelly Doughnut. Fortunately, these flavors have all been retired and are no longer available.
Pepsi White
Different flavors appeal to different palates around the world, which is why Pepsi White – which is Pepsi plus yogurt flavor – is available in Japan, but not the United States.
Tab Energy
The original Tab was a diet beverage before there were diet beverages. It tasted of artificial sweetener, but was a popular drink that was originally Coke’s answer to Royal Crown’s Diet Rite sodas. The brand faded in 1982 with the introduction of Diet Coke, though it can still be found in select markets. Tab Energy was an attempt in 2006 to revive the brand as a hip energy drink for young people. That idea failed miserably and Tab Energy was pulled from shelves in after only a couple of years.
New Coke
Perhaps the most famous oddball soda of all time was New Coke. Released in 1985, New Coke was a revised formulation of the classic cola that replaced the existing formula. To say people disliked this would be putting it lightly. The beverage was met with protests and Coca Cola ultimately rereleased the original formula. New Coke was briefly rebranded as Coke II before quietly being pulled off the market.
