What's Your Favorite Discontinued Soft Drink?

[osideterry]

It happened gradually. As a kid I lived on NuGrape, Mission Orange, and Nehi. When I was a 18, I could still find bottles of Suncrest Soda at any gas station. Into my mid 20s, cans of Big Red, as well as a few Fanta flavors could still be found. They were usually at gas stations out in the middle of nowhere.

They are all gone. It's Coke and Pepsi-owned labels as far as you can see. Not exactly. Lately I notice at convenience stores about half the cooler space devoted to energy drinks.

Older guys like me remember the regional stuff. Younger people had to have seen their childhood favorites disappear.

What do you really miss?

[Really full garden]

Dr.Pepper. I know it is very available in the US.It was bottled here in Guatemala about 25yrs. ago but was discontinued.

I can find it on rare occasions and it costs about $1.50 a can.

[osideterry]

I bet it was made with sugar cane back then. Those were the days. So what is available? In Mexico there are lot of apple and grapefruit flavored soft drinks not available here.

There is one specific soft drink (not yet mentioned) I have in mind that I'm waiting for someone to mention. I'll have to type bingo in all caps and add unnecessary exclamation marks or something.

[DoomsDave]

Open up a Spot, and let the sunshine out!

Tasty refreshment, that's what orange Spot is all about!

So, open up a Spot . . . .

And let the sunshine out!

(Doo doo-doo-doo-doo-dooobieeee!)

[osideterry]

Dave... does this hit the spot?

[MattyB]

Sometimes I buy a few of the Mexican sodas that are available in the grocery stores here. There's some interesting flavors.

[osideterry]

We need some images...

Edited April 30, 2009 by osideterry

[osideterry]

more

[Walt]

more

I remember a non carbonated grape drink called Tiny. It was only about 7 ounces, but I sure liked that drink. I think Tiny was only sold in the mid-Atlantic region. I know it was sold in Virginia in the mid to late 1950s, as that's when I bought it as a kid.

I guess I'm just partial to non carbonated soft drinks as I really liked Tru Ade orange and grape drinks. I don't know if they are still around. As a small kid in the early 1950s, my parents would occassionaly go to a place called Jerry's Hot Dogs. That's when you could still get served with a window tray in your car. I would always get an orange Tru Ade with my hot dog. Boy, did they taste good!

For the best bang for the buck, or I should say .12 cents, I could buy the 16oz Double Cola (carbonated) as a kid. I think R.C. Cola cost about the same.

[BS Man about Palms]

I bet it was made with sugar cane back then. Those were the days. So what is available? In Mexico there are lot of apple and grapefruit flavored soft drinks not available here.

There is one specific soft drink (not yet mentioned) I have in mind that I'm waiting for someone to mention. I'll have to type bingo in all caps and add unnecessary exclamation marks or something.

You can order the sugar cane Dr Pepper here... http://www.dublindrpepper.com/?gclid=COmu2...CFSRPagodTwi79g

I was thinking an R.C. Cola would be good now.. last one I had was about 2 years ago.

Terry- You've heard of this place? I would LOVE a PRA diversion to there someday!!! http://www.sodapopstop.com/home.cfm (in L.A.)

[_Keith]

I stopped drinking soft drinks years ago. So, well mine aren't discontinued, the old A&W Drive Inns (think Sonic) where I used to get them are long gone. They both were favorites from my childhood, which is more than enough years ago to justify discontinuance.

A&W Creme Soda (favorite, ice cold on a hot Louisiana summer day was priceless)

A&W Root Beer (second favorite, in a vanilla float)

Wait, my favorite, which I have not seen in years, served so cold ice formed on the surface when you popped the top, was Schlitz Beer.

[osideterry]

Walt - My brother and I would split a 16 oz Double Cola while watching 50's sci fi films on Friday nights when were 10 years old. Good stuff.

BS Man - Let's do it. Maybe combine it with the next PSSC meeting in LA. That Faygo Red Pop has me intrigued. I wonder how it would be with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Palmarati - A&W in a frosty mug, and at an A&W restaurant, is hard to beat. I have one in Redlands and another in Cabazon I hit when I'm inland. (Schlitz?... Schlitz?)

[paulgila]

schaefer beer.

[Daryl]

I bet it was made with sugar cane back then. Those were the days. So what is available? In Mexico there are lot of apple and grapefruit flavored soft drinks not available here.

There is one specific soft drink (not yet mentioned) I have in mind that I'm waiting for someone to mention. I'll have to type bingo in all caps and add unnecessary exclamation marks or something.

What do they use in softdrinks there now, instead of cane sugar? Artificial sweetener?

Obviously, most of the brands over here are different from those in the US, but we did use to have RC Cola. These days it is the same..all Pepsi or Coke products, and just a couple of local brands. Bundaberg brewed Ginger Beer is still a favourite.

One thing I can't stand is plastic bottles...softdrink just tastes better out of glass IMO.

Daryl

Daryl

[osideterry]

Daryl - Sometime back in the 70s, all soft drinks switched from cane sugar to high-fructose corn syrup as sweetener. No one really noticed, but if now have a chance to a soft drink with cane sugar there is a real difference. Fructose has a "softer" mouth-feel, while cane sugar is "brighter", has more edge\bite.

Currently Jones Soda is the only brand somewhat easy to find made with sugar.

[Eric in Orlando]

Soda with sugar is definitely much better than corn syrup. Cocoa Cola has just patented a sweeter made with stevia so hopefully that will show up soon.

I'm only 41 so don't remember a lot of the old regional brands. Growing up in the 70s and 80s it was pretty much the major brands around. I do like RC Cola the best but the only place I see it is in 2 liter bottles in the grocery. Around here I dont see vending machines or convnience stores with it but do if i go to IL to visit family. And I miss the A&W drive ins, my parents tooks us when we were kids. Root beer in a frosted mug in the back of a wood panel Chevrolet Caprice station wagon

Some brands and flavors I liked but not available any longer;

Teem (like Sprite or 7UP)

Upper 10 (like Sprite or 7UP)

Apple Slice (made by Pepsi in the late 80s)

7UP Citrus 7(from the mid 80s, I think it had 7 kinds of actual citrus juice)

Pepsi Clear (early/mid 90s)

Jolt Cola (late 80s)

RC Draft Cola (mid 90s, made with real cane sugar and kola extract, much different tasting than any other cola)

grape, orange, and strawberry Nehi

Years ago I found an old green bottle while digging here at Leu Gardens. It was a Chero Cola bottle. Come to find out that is what RC was called originally in the early 1900s.

[MattyB]

schaefer beer.

Get back in your cave!

[Jeff in St Pete]

I'm not sure if they still make it or not, but I used to love Orangina. It tasted like fresh mandarin/orange juice but it was lightly carbonated. It came in a funny shaped glass bottle too.

When I was a kid we had a soda called Tahitian Treat. It tasted like carbonated hawaiian punch, but better! I haven't seen it in years.

[DoomsDave]

I'm not sure if they still make it or not, but I used to love Orangina. It tasted like fresh mandarin/orange juice but it was lightly carbonated. It came in a funny shaped glass bottle too.

When I was a kid we had a soda called Tahitian Treat. It tasted like carbonated hawaiian punch, but better! I haven't seen it in years.

I remember those, too, from Ohio.

Along with Tahiti Sweetie . . . . .

[Walter John]

We used to have our own soft drink company right here in Wynnum, and the old man would buy a cratefull every christmas, "cherry cheer" was my favorite. The factory burned down about 40 years ago. Ah, the memories, you know that was about the only time we ever had softdrinks as kids, at christmas.

[waykoolplantz]

theres a pineapple drink here called Jupina

[osideterry]

Eric - I remember that RC Draft Cola from a few years back. It was good stuff.

Cool story Wal. Our parents weren't exactly health food experts back in the 60s. I wonder if the global economy eventually will replace every regional product with a national brand.

When I go to Sayulita, Mexico every Fall I drink Manzano Lift, an apple juice based soda, as well as many of the citrus flavors. I'll have to look for Orangina and Jupina next fall when I go again. I think the Coke in the 16 oz heavy glass bottles contains sugar. My sons can't get enough of it.

Edited April 30, 2009 by osideterry

[Walt]

As a kid I was very frugal with what little money (mostly change, some found under the couch and chair cushions) I had. I was always looking for the best value (usually largest quantity) when I bought soft drinks, candy, etc.

Aside from Double Cola, I would often buy Big Time candy bars, as they were about the biggest one could get for the money. They were .5 cents a bar when I was a kid.

Big Time candy bar at 17 seconds into video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=...p;v=ShBeSGGVSWk

I would also buy Chum Gum. You got three sticks (each individually wrapped) for one cent! Even in the 1950s that was a bargain!

Ice cream cones (one scoop) were 5 cents. A two-scoop cone was 10 cents (which was just a 5 cent sized cone with an extra scoop of ice cream on it). Hence, to get more for my money, I would buy two 5 cent cones, thereby getting two cones! Who were those jokers trying to fool!

[gsn]

Grapette with salted peanuts poured right in the bottle, good stuff! circa late 50's early 60's!

Edited April 30, 2009 by gsn

[Jasen]

Coca cola fueled many of my late night study sessions with SURGE, which much to my chagrin was last made available in the us in 2001. The memories.

Edited May 1, 2009 by Jasen

[BS Man about Palms]

Sounds like a plan, Terry.............

By the way, I have found Orangina as recently as in the last couple years at Trader Joes....

[Really full garden]

Coca Cola is made with cane sugar here.I believe all soft drinks here are made with cane sugar.Guatemala is the fourth largest producer .

A couple of popular local soft drinks are Tiki - pineapple flavored soda and Lift - grapefruit flavored (Its really good)

[osideterry]

Walt - My favorite out of circulation candy was a Marathon Bar. Like Milk Duds in a long bar format.

GSN - I would get car sick as a child, and have very specific memories involving Grapette and the interior of my Dad's boss's new Cadillac.

BS Man - Let's make it happen.

Here's the ones I really miss: The red creme sodas like Big Red and especially Fanta Red Cream Soda. Make a float from one.... maybe my memory is building it up too much. The "brown" cream sodas now just don't cut it.

[BS Man about Palms]

I saw a commercial in my groggy state the other night and I couldn't believe what I saw. But I saw it again and see that for a while there will be "Pepsi Throwback" made with cane sugar. Gotta find me some!

Also, Terry, I will say that the Henry Weinhard selection of Root Beer and Orange Cream are exceptional well worth a trip, but I buy them on sale at Ralphs.

[plantapalm]

This was a tough 1 to find in the 90's but when you did it was awesome with a cheeseburger!

[osideterry]

WOW! I can imagine it... Not making a float with it.

WOW!

[BS Man about Palms]

This was a tough 1 to find in the 90's but when you did it was awesome with a cheeseburger!

I believe it was announced April 1st 2007

[plantapalm]

I believe it was announced April 1st 2007

I was just joking around , I had the pic saved on my computer.

They use to have the clear sodas when I was a teenager and my mom always would drink the TAB Clear. So generally that was the only soda in the house. I came pretty accustom to them. I can still find TAB around sometimes, but it is just not same!

[Walter John]

I remember TAB here as well, how about 7 UP lemonade, and Tristrams stubby thick glass bottles of softdrinks, ah, the days of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Delltones, Johnny O'Keefe, drive-in theatres, the little girl next door in the pink dress, home made hamburgers, ghost riders in the sky, Hoss Cartwiright, Spike Milligan, the list goes on.

[tank]

Orbits

Actually, not really.

Keystone Beer .... oh wait, its back, but why?

[tank]

Here's the ones I really miss: The red creme sodas like Big Red and especially Fanta Red Cream Soda. Make a float from one.... maybe my memory is building it up too much. The "brown" cream sodas now just don't cut it.

I'll have to agree with this. Although I always remember feeling nauseous after finishing a bottle. The first sip was heaven and it went downhill from there.

For some reason I used to enjoy Big Red and Seagrams.

[tank]

It appears that Big Red is still around, just not in the finer gas stations that I frequent.

[Eric in Orlando]

I'm not sure if they still make it or not, but I used to love Orangina. It tasted like fresh mandarin/orange juice but it was lightly carbonated. It came in a funny shaped glass bottle too.

When I was a kid we had a soda called Tahitian Treat. It tasted like carbonated hawaiian punch, but better! I haven't seen it in years.

Orangina is available here in the grocery. I remember when my brother lived in France working at EuroDisney when it first opened he broght it back. its a French drink but now it is bottled in the US, too.

[Eric in Orlando]

Anybody remember Chelsea? It was made in the late 70's by Anheuser-Busch and was a soda with a small bit of alcohol. I remember back then my dad bartended and would bring some home occaisonally. AB also made a root beer at the same time called Root 66.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_(beverage)

[Kim]

I associate Fresca with hanging out at the beach in the mid-60's and listening to the Beach Boys. It's been "re-issued" and I od'd on it in 2006, even using the cans in a still-life for painting class.