31 Popular Sodas from the ’60s and ’70s We Want Back

Hi Baby Boomers! Do you remember the soda you could buy from the corner store for a nickel? We had refreshing classic flavors that aren’t seen today. Let’s go back to the 60s and 70s and remember some of the classic soft drinks that we hope make a return!

1. Teem (1960-1984)

Pepsi’s answer to 7-Up, Teem, was a soda created before Sprite took over the lemon-lime market. It had a distinct green bottle and a strong crisp and tart flavor. That drink was great to mix with a Tom Collins at the neighborhood cocktail parties. In 1984, that drink disappeared and was replaced with Slice. It may be a 70s or 80s nostalgia thing, but I remember nothing else compares to the unique taste of that drink.

2. Aspen Apple Soda (1978-1982)

Pepsi’s attempt at making an apple-flavored soda was a nice break from the normal cola wars. Aspen, named after a Colorado ski town, had a nice, crisp apple flavor that was great for hot summer days. Although it only lasted four years, those who were lucky enough to try it, will always remember it.

3. Pepsi Light (1975-1983)

This one-of-a-kind cola was ahead of its time. It is a diet cola with a twist of lemon that came out decades before Diet Coke with Lemon. The commercials with a diving lemon slice were unforgettable, and the cola had a uniquely refreshing taste. It was our generations first experience of what would later become an entire line of flavored diet sodas.

4. Mountain Dew Red (1988)

Mountain Dew Red was released in 1988 as a cherry-flavored version of the classic drink. Though it was short-lived, it helped form a following that would be tapped into by future flavor iterations.

5. Whistle Orange Soda (1916-early 1970s)

Prior to Fanta and Sunkist taking control of the orange soda market, Whistle was popular as an orange soda for us. It had a perfect balance of orange flavoring that was not too sweet and the fizz was ideal. The logo shaped like a whistle helped it get noticed on the shelves of the store.

6. Fresca (1966-present)

Coca-Cola introduced this soft drink flavor as a calorie-free option compared to normal soda. It became successful and became a hit with consumers looking for a lighter option due to its soft drink style refreshing flavor instead of the syrupy flavors we are used to. Fresca has been on shelves since the start of its journey.

7. York Beverages (1960s)

York Beverages were known for their unique taste, old-fashioned style, and distinctive glass bottles. Offering flavors like birch beer and sarsaparilla, they became a staple for family picnics and neighborhood gatherings in the Northeast.

8. Gini (1971-1980s)

This lemon-flavored drink was Coca-Cola’s response to Sprite and 7-Up. It had a distinct, more refined flavor that appealed to both children and adults. It enjoyed popularity in Europe before crossing the Atlantic for a short, but impactful stint, in the United States.

9. Mason’s Root Beer (1947-1970s)

Prior to A&W establishing itself as the number one root beer manufacturer, Mason’s had a dedicated customer base. Its root beer was characterized by a rich and creamy head and a unique spicy taste. It was routinely served at drive-ins and diners. Even then, the company’s old-fashioned glass bottles became collector’s items.

10. Bubble Up (1919-present)

Before 7-Up took a shot at the “Uncola” title, Bubble Up was the first lemon-lime soda to offer a “kiss of lemon, kiss of lime.” It had a lighter, more fizzy feel and the unique bubble-shaped bottle made it more eye-catching on the shelf.

11. Wink (1965-2000s)

Canada Dry marketed pink grapefruit soda as a more sophisticated option for adults. The refreshing, slightly bitter flavor made it a great choice for cocktail parties where it was common to mix drinks with it. The slogan “Wink, the sassy one” fit the drink’s personality and was popular with the mod generation.

12. Sugar Free Dr Pepper (1962-1980s)

Sugar Free Dr Pepper was the first diet soda before Diet Dr Pepper came on the market. Cyclamates were used as a sweetener until they were banned in 1969, leading to a taste that people preferred over the saccharin versions that came after. It is rumored that it was the diet soda that came closest to tasting like its sugar-sweetened counterpart.

13. Veep (1960-1964)

14. Tab

Coca-Cola launched their first diet soda in a pink can, and it was the drink of choice throughout the 60s and 70s before Diet Coke came on the scene and stole its popularity.

15. Mr. Pibb

In 1972, Coke introduced their cherry Dr. Pepper competitor, and the original formula was rebranded as Pibb Xtra, so if you grew up on that version, it’s long gone.

16. Patio Diet Cola

Patio was the first diet cola from Pepsi before Diet Pepsi came on the market. It was introduced in 1963 and was rebranded the following year before it disappeared.

17. Simba

In the 1969 Coca-Cola released a wild citrus soda with a lion mascot that was available in the US until 1972.

18. Mello Yello

Coke’s citrus soda with a high caffeine content was released 1979 and is a nostalgic product meant to take market share from Mountain Dew.

19. Sprite

Sprite started to be sold in green bottles in the year 1961. It was Coca-Cola’s answer to 7-Up and a hit soda fountain product in the 1960s and 1970s.

20. Shasta

The low-priced soda king advertised heavily and sold a variety of flavors from cream soda to black cherry.

21. Nehi

Nehi became a Southern icon and was known for its peach and grape sodas even being featured on the show M*A*S*H making it even more popular.

22. RC Cola

The scrappy cola was partnered with Moonpie and RC Cola who were the first to make a diet drink.

23. Squirt

Tart grapefruit soda was a popular drink during the 60s and 70s and before Fresca became popular it was the go to for grapefruit soda.

24. Sun Drop

Before Mountain Dew became popular in the south this heavily caffeinated citrus soda was a favorite.

25. Orange Crush

The soda fountain brand is known for its crinkly brown ‘Krinkly’ bottle as well as its grape and strawberry sodas that were popular in the 70s.

26. Nesbitt’s

The original orange soda, that was on shelves in the 1940s and 50s, was California based and available until the 60s when Fanta and Crush became more popular.

27. Grapette

The intense purple color of the Pride soda from Camden, Arkansas, was a firm favorite during the ’50s and ’60s, and now has all but disappeared from shelves, becoming a nostalgic legend.

28. Moxie

Moxie was one of the first soft drinks in the United States; its bitter flavor was an acquired taste, but for some reason, it continued to exist in New England during the 60s and 70s.

29. Vernors Ginger Ale

During the 70s, ginger ale that had been barreled in Detroit was a Michigan ritual because it had a spicy-sweet vanilla flavor that was so strong it could make people cry.

30. Yoo-hoo

Yogi Berra promoted the yellow bottled chocolate drink, one of the most popular drinks in a ballpark or a lunchbox.

31. Frostie Root Beer

From the 40s to the 70s, a creamy vanilla root beer became a favorite because it had a jolly looking elf on the label.

In the early sixties, RC Cola made an attempt to compete with Coke and Pepsi, and introduced a short-lived product called Veep, which was unique in flavoring compared to other colas. During election seasons, its packaging was a party talking point due to its blue, red, and white colors along with a political theme, making it stand out among other colas.