CREAM
Shasta
There never was a Mr. Shasta:
Back in 1889, the company's
source of mineral water was in
Shasta Springs, California. Today,
Shasta makes 54 flavors, and the
cream soda wowed our panelists.
Less fake vanilla–flavored than
others, Shasta Creme soda has a
caramel-like taste.
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ROOTBEER
Faygo
Root beer dates back to the
1700s and is still made with
a mix of juniper berries,
sarsaparilla and ginger-root.
The best-tasting root beer,
according to our tasting,
comes from Faygo, a company
born in Detroit in 1907.
Judges liked the balance of
carbonation and sweetness.
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COLA
Pepsi
Let’s face it: Even though we tested
10 colas, the great cola war has
always been between Coke
and Pepsi. Nearly every other
soft-drink maker has its own
contender, but the winner in our
blind taste test was Pepsi,
made by a company founded
in 1903. Judges deemed it
the most classic in taste.
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LEMON-LIME
Bubble Up
You'll detect artificial flavor in many lemon-lime drinks, but not
in Bubble Up. Introduced in 1920 and produced by the same
folks who make Moxie (which dates back to 1884), the soda is
remarkably acidic, limey and dry, said our panelists.
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GINGER ALE
Stewart's
Ginger Beer
Frank Stewart opened a soda-pop
stand in 1924, but he sold only
fountain drafts; another company
acquired the bottling rights to the
name and introduced Stewart's Ginger
Beer in 1990. Unlike most ginger ales,
Stewart's is brownish in color and so
spicy that it tickles the nostrils.
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GRAPEFRUIT
Squirt
In 1938, during the Great Depression, Herb Bishop tinkered with a
soda recipe that would require less sugar and less fruit—a necessity
in those leaner days. The result was Squirt. Our tasters praised the
sparkle on the tongue and the crisp, citrusy flavor.
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