Nuka-Cola

Nuka-Cola was the most popular soft drink in the world before the Great War. After the War, many bottles of this pre-War favorite still survived, and Nuka-Cola remains one of the most popular soft drinks of the post-apocalyptic world. Their bottle caps are also famously used as currency, along with Sunset Sarsaparilla.

Background
Nuka-Cola was invented in 2044 by John-Caleb Bradberton. Its unique taste gained widespread popularity, quickly becoming the most popular soft drink in the United States with an extremely dedicated following. The widely known dazzling blue bottle color was adopted as standard in 2052, after market research programs indicated that the blue color was the favorite in 86 people out of 100 polled.

The ingredients of Nuka-Cola include: carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate (to protect taste), natural flavors, citric acid, and caffeine. What gives it a unique flavor is the essence of seventeen different fruits mixed in just the right proportion to give the beverage its trademark taste. Some versions of the drink also include vita-minerals and health tonics. During the Great Passion Fruit Famine of 2044, people actually noticed the taste difference when the recipe was changed.

By 2067, vending machines with ice cold Nuka-Cola could be found on virtually every street in America.

Nuka-Cola


Nuka-Cola was the most popular flavored soft drink in the United States before the Great War. After the War, Nuka-Cola remains one of the most popular soft drinks of the post-nuclear world, as much of it was preserved in a fairly pristine state, although it tends to be warm, irradiated, and flat.

Ice cold Nuka-Cola


Ice cold Nuka-Cola is a rare wasteland commodity that is the result of placing a bottle of Nuka-Cola in a functioning refrigeration unit. It may be chilled, but it is still irradiated and flat.

Nuka-Cola Quantum


In 2077, a new version called Nuka-Cola Quantum was introduced. According to the advertisements, it had twice the calories, twice the carbohydrates, twice the caffeine and twice the taste. To make it stand out more on the shelves and to give it an extra kick, the Quantum included a mild radioactive strontium isotope (and an eighteenth fruit flavor - pomegranate). The effect was a drink that not only boosted your energy, but also glowed with a bright blue light. While no ill effects were recorded by the Food and Drug Administration, the isotope also caused the drinker's urine to glow.

Reports that can be obtained in the Nuka-Cola plant show that product development had not been without failures and casualties. The company found a suitable isotope in strontium-90. The product was made in small experimental groups, which were then sent out around Washington, D.C. for feedback. Unfortunately, while the product was being sent out for response, some of the packages were caught out in the Great War.

Nuka-Cola Clear
The company began to develop a product called Nuka-Cola Clear, with "only minimal loss of life." They were able to modify the look of Nuka-Cola, yet give it the same great taste. The formula and some entries on a research terminal can be found in the Nuka-Cola plant, but it never made it into production.

Nuka-Cola Quartz


Nuka-Cola Quartz is a flavor of Nuka-Cola unique to the American southwest, in a similar sort of situation to Nuka-Cola Quantum. It is a clear drink with a white tint and glow. This version of the soft drink also gives the drinker low-light vision, much like the effects given after taking Cateye.

Nuka-Cola Victory


Nuka-Cola Victory is another flavor of Nuka-Cola that is unique to the American southwest. It is colored orange, giving it a distinct look, much like the Nuka-Cola Quantum of the east coast.

Cherry Nuka-Cola


Cherry Nuka-Cola is a variation of regular Nuka-Cola. After it was introduced, it turned out that nobody liked the taste. This resulted in a marketing disaster for the company, which quickly attempted to save the brand by introducing the Classic Nuka-Cola, tasting exactly like the original, but in a new bottle. The story of its introduction, rejection, and replacement by Classic Nuka-Cola mimics that of new Coke.

Classic Nuka-Cola


Classic Nuka-Cola tastes exactly like the original Nuka-Cola, but comes in a new bottle. It was an attempt at saving the brand after the marketing disaster that was Cherry Nuka-Cola.

Yellow Nuka-Cola


Yellow Nuka-Cola is a "variation" of regular Nuka-Cola, both yellow in color and with an "interesting" smell. In Chicago, during the Brotherhood of Steel's reign, there were reports of this strange yellow Nuka-Cola. However, it was quickly identified as a substance designed by a "mad naked man" who "made water." Considering this, and the fact that it's poisonous to anyone with the temerity to actually drink it, it is apparent that the so-called cola is in fact a generous helping of urine.

Fusion Cola


Phil, the Nuka-Cola dude, had the thankless job of riding around the Wasteland with his bike and refilling all of the Nuka-Cola machines that littered it. It was a tradition passed down (rather stupidly) from generation to generation. Phil was not impressed and doesn't like Nuka-Cola that much. It is rumored that he had something called Fusion Nuka-Cola, a unique, unknown taste which was created by fusing together some Nuka-Cola dregs into a concentrated essence.