Nuka-Cola

Nuka-Cola is a beverage produced by the United States' Nuka-Cola Corporation. The product subsequently dominated the market as the most popular American soda. In the aftermath of the Great War, the bottle caps of Nuka-Cola are the most commonly used currency.

Background
Nuka-Cola entered the beverage market in 2044, with the invention of the soft drink by John-Caleb Bradberton after two years of experimentation. It contained 120% of the recommended daily allowance of sugar, and took the United States market by storm, and within a year could be purchased nationwide.

Additional formula research resulted in numerous flavor variations, popular additions including cherry, grape, and orange released just a few years after the drink debuted. The last Nuka-Cola taste variant was created in October 2076, dubbed Nuka-Cola Quantum based on an isotope of strontium-90, the first cases of which hit the market in select cities before the war. Market research in 2052 indicated that 86 out of 100 polled consumers chose the "Dazzling Blue" color of bottle as their favorite.

By 2067, there was a vending machine on almost every street in America, offering regular Nuka-Cola and any of its variants. Nuka-Cola was distributed in bottles and in cans, and soda fountains were installed as an amenity in Appalachia's Whitespring Resort. In 2077, a new "bottle rocket" shape was introduced by the company, though many bottles produced prior were still available. According to Sierra Petrovita, Nuka-Cola continues to be the "number one choice of refreshment among armageddon's survivors" in the post-War world.

Characteristics
The unique taste of Nuka-Cola is the result of a combination of 17 fruit essences, balanced to enhance the classic cola flavor. The combination of carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, citric acid, caffeine, and natural flavors was marketed as being fortified with "vitaminerals" and "health tonics." Ingredients were combined in just the right proportion, to the level that shortages of ingredients or changes to the recipe were noticed by consumers. Frequent consumption could cause addiction, which led to splitting headaches.