1. Moxie
Moxie was once a household name, long before Coke or Pepsi dominated the shelves. It started as a medicinal tonic in the late 1800s and was marketed as a cure for everything from paralysis to “nervous exhaustion.” Its bitter, rooty flavor made it stand out, and in New England especially, people swore by it. For decades, it outsold Coca-Cola in certain parts of the country.
But its sharp taste eventually fell out of step with America’s growing sweet tooth. By the 1950s, Coke and Pepsi’s smoother formulas pushed it to the sidelines. Still, in Maine, Moxie is something of a legend, with festivals and diehard fans who keep the drink alive. It’s a rare reminder that soda wasn’t always the king of fizzy drinks.
2. Tab
Before Diet Coke came along, Tab was the diet soda. Introduced in 1963 by Coca-Cola, it was marketed to calorie-conscious women and quickly became a cultural icon of the ’70s and ’80s. Its bright pink cans and catchy advertising made it stand out, and celebrities were often spotted drinking it. For many people, Tab was their first introduction to a diet soft drink.
But Tab had a tough road ahead once Diet Coke launched in 1982. Coke put all its marketing power behind the new brand, leaving Tab to fade into cult-classic status. Loyal fans stuck with it for decades, but Coca-Cola officially discontinued it in 2020. Today, it lives on in nostalgic memories—and in the pantries of people who hoarded the last cases.
3. Hi-C Ecto Cooler
If you were a kid in the ’80s or ’90s, you probably begged your parents for a juice box of Hi-C Ecto Cooler. It was created as a tie-in for Ghostbusters in 1987, with its neon-green color and Slimer mascot making it instantly memorable. Despite being marketed as “juice,” it was really just sugary citrus-flavored fun in a box.
Ecto Cooler was so beloved that it outlived the Ghostbusters cartoon, sticking around in stores until 2001. Fans campaigned for its return for years, and Coca-Cola briefly brought it back in 2016 to promote the Ghostbusters reboot. Even though it didn’t stay, Ecto Cooler still holds a special place in the hearts of ’90s kids.
4. Clearly Canadian
In the ’90s, Clearly Canadian was everywhere. The sparkling fruit-flavored water came in its signature glass bottle and was marketed as a healthier, trendier alternative to soda. With flavors like Mountain Blackberry and Orchard Peach, it felt fancy compared to a can of Coke. Schools, gas stations, and malls all carried it, and it quickly became a staple for teens and young adults.
But as the bottled water craze shifted toward brands like Dasani and flavored seltzers like LaCroix, Clearly Canadian lost its shine. By the early 2000s, it had disappeared from most shelves. Thanks to nostalgia-driven demand, the brand actually staged a small comeback in recent years, but it’s nowhere near the cultural phenomenon it once was.
5. Jolt Cola
In the ’80s and ’90s, Jolt Cola was the drink parents warned you about. With the tagline “All the sugar and twice the caffeine,” it was marketed directly to teenagers, gamers, and college students pulling all-nighters. It came in a bold red-and-blue can and promised exactly what it delivered—a massive jolt of energy.
While Jolt Cola had its moment, it couldn’t compete once energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster entered the scene. By the early 2000s, those brands stole the spotlight with even edgier marketing and more extreme formulas. Today, Jolt is a relic of a time when soda was still the most daring way to fuel a late night.
6. New York Seltzer
During the ’80s, New York Seltzer became the cool kid’s alternative to soda. Packaged in small, stubby glass bottles, it came in clear flavors like Black Cherry, Vanilla Cream, and Root Beer. What made it unique was that it was caffeine-free, lightly carbonated, and had a cleaner taste than traditional sodas. It felt fresh and modern at a time when most drinks were sticky-sweet colas.
By the ’90s, however, it struggled to keep up with the big players and quietly disappeared. But for a while, New York Seltzer was a favorite for people who wanted soda without the heaviness. It even got a brief revival in the 2010s, which delighted those who remembered sipping it after school or at the roller rink.
7. Fresca
Fresca hit the market in the 1960s as a grapefruit-flavored soda with zero calories, and it quickly carved out a loyal following. It was especially popular among adults who wanted something refreshing but not overly sweet. For decades, it had a unique place in American kitchens, and for some families, it was the “grown-up” soda.
But Fresca struggled to compete as newer diet sodas and flavored waters flooded the market. Its sales dwindled, and by the 2000s, it had become more of a niche product than a national favorite. It still exists today, but its glory days as a mainstream alternative to cola are long gone.
8. Orbitz
If you were alive in the ’90s, you probably remember Orbitz—the soda with floating, lava-lamp-like beads suspended in the liquid. It was launched in 1997 by Clearly Canadian and marketed as the drink of the future. Kids were fascinated by the odd texture and wild flavors like Pineapple Banana Cherry Coconut.
Unfortunately, the taste didn’t quite live up to the hype. Many people found it more fun to look at than to drink. After just a couple of years, Orbitz disappeared from stores. But anyone who tried it remembers the experience vividly, making it one of the most iconic failed drinks of the ’90s.
9. Crystal Pepsi
Crystal Pepsi made a huge splash in the early ’90s, mostly because of how strange it looked. It promised the same Pepsi taste but without the caramel coloring, making it completely clear. Commercials even featured Van Halen’s “Right Now,” adding to its sense of coolness. At first, everyone had to try it just to see what it was like.
The problem was, the taste wasn’t quite the same as Pepsi, and people quickly lost interest. It became one of the biggest flops in soda history, but also one of the most nostalgic. Pepsi has brought it back a few times for limited runs, which always excites fans who want to relive that quirky ’90s moment.
10. Fruitopia
In the mid-’90s, Fruitopia was marketed as the ultimate drink for teens. With psychedelic ads, trippy flavor names like Strawberry Passion Awareness, and bold, colorful packaging, it was Coca-Cola’s answer to the growing juice craze. For a few years, Fruitopia was the go-to drink in vending machines, schools, and malls.
But the fad didn’t last. By the early 2000s, Coca-Cola phased most flavors out in favor of Minute Maid. For many millennials, though, Fruitopia will always be remembered as the drink that captured the carefree, colorful spirit of the ’90s.
11. Slice
Before Sierra Mist or Starry, there was Slice. Launched in 1984 by Pepsi, Slice came in a variety of fruit flavors like lemon-lime, cherry, and orange, all with the promise of “10% real juice.” For a while, it was seen as a slightly healthier, fun alternative to Sprite or 7UP. It even became a popular option in school cafeterias and family fridges.
By the late ’90s, though, Slice had lost its market share. Pepsi eventually replaced it with Sierra Mist, leaving Slice as just another forgotten brand. Still, plenty of people remember cracking open a can of Slice on a hot day and thinking it was the cooler choice over plain old soda.
12. Surge
When Coca-Cola introduced Surge in 1996, it was meant to compete directly with Mountain Dew. Marketed to extreme sports fans and gamers, it had a neon-green color and a citrus kick that screamed ’90s energy. Commercials showed kids skateboarding, biking, and shouting “Surge!” as if it were a battle cry.
Though it had a passionate fan base, Surge was pulled from the market in the early 2000s after sales slowed. That didn’t stop fans from begging for its return, though, and Coke eventually brought it back for limited runs. For those who grew up with it, Surge will always be remembered as the ultimate soda alternative of the ’90s.