Default Soda - Do they exist? Always Cola?

[steve(thelil)]

It seems to me that most people have a default soda. In other words, most of the time they will buy the same soda (given the opportunity) on over 50% of their soda purchases (to drink themselves). AND it seems to me that most people's default soda is a cola (eg. either Coke, Pepsi, Diet Coke, etc)

For me this is definitely the case. After many years of being a Pepsi drinker, I made the switch to Diet Pepsi as my default soda (once the now longstanding formula and sweetener was on the market).

Do you agree that most people have a default soda and that it's usually a cola? Do you have one? What is it?

[Enforcer]

I do have a default (Coke), although I've lately spent a lot more time with the local brands of my youth. I nearly started a thread about favorite local soft drinks, but I'll post about it here instead. We call it "pop" here in Michigan and a few other areas of the mid-west.

Vernors (the oldest soda in the U.S.)
Faygo (especially Redpop)

I haven't gone out and picked up some Towne Club yet, but I plan to do so soon. Crazy flavors, even more than Faygo offers.

Vernors and vanilla ice cream makes an ice cream float known as the Boston Cooler. Not named after the city in Massachusets, but for Boston Boulevard in Detroit.

[Noj]

I've recently abandoned soda for unsweetened iced tea or juice, but I was definitely a default cola drinker. However, I had no preference between Coke or Pepsi, and did enjoy Dr. Pepper or Root Beer or 7-Up or Fanta or ginger ale when I'd drink them. Diet soda tastes awful to me.

[Vince Kargatis]

Based on my consumption of free soda at work (Coke products), my default soda is Barq's root beer, which i choose probably 90% of the time.

[Dr Dave]

Diet Coke, even though it is Evil.

I used to drink Fresca whenever it was available, but the instructions on my anti-cholesterol drug say "no grapefruit" so I don't drink it anymore.

Fresca in literature: In Elmore Leonard's "La Brava," the alcoholic operator of a private security service drinks bourbon and Fresca.

[Enforcer]

This is the real shit. Detroit style, bitches.

[Noj]

How 'bout a Fresca? Hmm? Hmm?

[MRS]

[Chris D]

You can get Faygo for 10 cents a can at the local store.

I like my DC

[Enforcer]

Back in the really old days, my grandpa used to talk about how much he loved Bitter Orange. Now, I know Schweppes made Bitter Lemon, but I'm not sure if they also made Bitter Orange. I remember one of these had actual bits of fruit at the bottom. Was it Bitter Orange or Bitter Lemon (which is still produced, I believe)? Or was it Orange Crush back in the day?

[Brian Olewnick]

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Back in the really old days, my grandpa used to talk about how much he loved Bitter Orange. Now, I know Schweppes made Bitter Lemon, but I'm not sure if they also made Bitter Orange. I remember one of these had actual bits of fruit at the bottom. Was it Bitter Orange or Bitter Lemon (which is still produced, I believe)? Or was it Orange Crush back in the day?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure somewhere a few years back here I made reference to Schweppes (9-letters, one syllable, btw) Bitter Orange. Great soda. Like its sister, it had bits of (apparent) fruit wafting around on the bottom of the bottle.

"soda" of choice for me--Tonic water.

[Enforcer]

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Yeah, I'm pretty sure somewhere a few years back here I made reference to Schweppes (9-letters, one syllable, btw) Bitter Orange. Great soda. Like its sister, it had bits of (apparent) fruit wafting around on the bottom of the bottle.

"soda" of choice for me--Tonic water.

Awesome. My grandpa loved that stuff. Tonic water was it for me when I was a kid. I used to drink it on the rocks. The adults would all be drinking gin and tonics with a slice of lime. I'd get lime and tonic without the gin. Good times.

[Scott Dolan]

I drink nothing but water, green tea(sun brewed), and alcohol these days.

But my fave when I was a kid was Frosty's Root Beer. I don't even know if they make that stuff anymore. But it blew away shit like Barq's and IPA.


Hey Schau, is that still there? I don't think I've ever sen that before?

[Enforcer]

Speaking of root beer, anyone remember getting a frosty mug of A&W at the drive-in stand? That's some crazy old time stuff, man.

[Doc Martin]

My current favorite is Chino, which is made by San Pellegrino. Chino is an Italian drink made from chinotto fruit which tastes similar to Angustura bitters.

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

He he - Faygo

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Speaking of root beer, anyone remember getting a frosty mug of A&W at the drive-in stand? That's some crazy old time stuff, man.

Still have one just up the road. Car-side service and everything.

[Brian Olewnick]

Originally Posted by Doc Martin

My current favourite is Chino, which is made by San Pellegrino. Chino is an Italian drink made from chinotto fruit which tastes similar to Angustura bitters.

Yeah, great stuff. Don't see it around so much, though, otherwise it'd be choice.

[MRS]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Hey Schau, is that still there? I don't think I've ever sen that before?

Yeah in fact that's just immediately across Cass from the dome.

[Doc Martin]

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Yeah, great stuff. Don't see it around so much, though, otherwise it'd be choice.

I buy it at The Italian Food Center on Grand Street.

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

For about 15 years, the only soda i ever bought was Pepsi, with the exception of occasionally buying A&W for a root beer float, and i drank a lot of it.

Now all i drink is coffee, water, and diluted orange juice.

Never liked tonic water. I don't like the way European Pepsi tastes, so when in Europe i buy Sprite and Fanta orange.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by MRS

Yeah in fact that's just immediately across Cass from the dome.

Damn. How in the hell did I miss that?!

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Smaka Waka Jawaka

diluted orange juice.

*vomit*

I'd rather drink bleach.

Fresh squeezed OJ is one of the few things I really miss about Florida. And loaded with pulp. If I couldn't chew on it, it wasn't real OJ.

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

Originally Posted by Shoopy Waka Doody

*vomit*

I'd rather drink bleach.

Believe me, I'd rather you drank bleach too.

[cookie]

I recently had to give up diet soda (yes, always cola for me. Don't care what kind long as it's diet). I've been struggling with this annoying facial rash since November (became a master makeup artist as a result). I was afraid it was my fake hair and stress certainly made it worse (the worst it got was the night before I had to conduct a big concert. My face was raw to the point of not being able to sleep well. I was some kind of caked in Almay for that gig).

Anyway, a little over a month ago, we ran out of diet soda in the house. We were all busy so we didn't get to the grocery store for a couple of weeks. My rash went down, but I attributed it to the college stress being over.

Well, then we got some soda and steadily over the course of three days, the rash began to return. Somehow, I made the connection and quit drinking the soda again. Rash went away. So far so good.

But I can't drink soda. The dermatologist told me that aspartame sensitivity is very common. I'm trying to find diet sodas that *don't* use aspartame, but there aren't many. I very rarely drink full sugar/corn-syrup sodas: too many calories.

Soooooo, my default "soda" has become sparkling water. My favorite brand of that is Saratoga.

[Doc Martin]

This is Guarana Antarctica from Brazil, the taste of Guarana is hard to describe, but it’s a fruity taste; it’s citrus-like and light without being too syrupy. This will also get you WIRED. I know, this is also hard to find, but what can I tell you? Of course, you could try living in a real city.

[Gentle Giant]

I'm a Fresca guy, though I don't like the new look and the fact that there's a frickin' peach variety. And it's not "citrus" it's grapefruit.

Old:


New:

[Gentle Giant]

Originally Posted by Doc Martin

This is Guarana Antarctica from Brazil, the taste of Guarana is hard to describe, but it’s a fruity taste; it’s citrus-like and light without being too syrupy. This will also get you WIRED. I know, this is also hard to find, but what can I tell you? Of course, you could try living in a real city.

Yeah, I've had that. It's good.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Donut Carat Phlippa

Believe me, I'd rather you drank bleach too.

Goddammitt!!!

[Ron Thorne]

I guess Coca Cola has been my default soft drink, overall. I don't like the taste of Pepsi nearly as much. It's sweeter and has a cloying effect on me. Can't stand diet drinks, either.

My 2nd favorite soft drink is probably Orange Crush, although Grape Crush was also a favorite when I was a kid. I also love Cream Soda.

Anyone remember Nehi?

I can't fathom drinking diluted orange juice either, Scott. I love to squeeze fresh oranges, lemons and tangerines when we visit our son in California. It's the closest thing I've found to replace my love of central Florida's incredible citrus. His trees are in their back yard and are old and provide wonderful fruit. He also has a tangelo tree which is pretty hip. Darren has a very cool hand squeezer which is fun to use. I loved it so much that I bought a few vintage (40's-50's) Juice-King juicers on eBay a couple of years ago and kept one for us and gave the other two to our other son and our daughter.