Is There Any Cherry In Cherry Coke?

Cherry Coke began with a whole lot of teenage flirting

at the drugstore soda fountain, which might be one reason why the drink

is so associated with young people. But Cherry Coke wasn't the first cherry cola at the dance

Heck, it wasn't even the second. So how did it become the number one soda

of summers at the drive-in? Today, we're taking you through the sweet history

of Cherry Coke. The origins of Cherry Coke can be traced back

to the late 1800s when soda fountains and drugstores were common in American cities

These soda fountains served as social spaces where soda jerks would mix popular sodas with

flavored syrups. A soda jerk was the swaggering showman slash bartender of the soda fountain era

part mixologist, part entertainer. Serving up busy concoctions and creamy treats with flair

charm, and a lingo all their own. Colas mixed with cherry syrup became a nostalgic staple of

American culture, they became a part of the social ritual, often associated with teen

romance, trips to the local drugstore, and casual dates shared at the soda counter

Cherry Coke, originally marketed as Cherry Coca-Cola, officially hit U.S. shelves in

the summer of 1985, marking Coca-Cola's first ever extension of its flagship brand

The official version simply bottled what had already become a fan favorite. While the company has never revealed the exact syrup formula cherry cola production typically involves mixing cherry flavoring with Coca signature notes of cola nuts citrus vanilla and cinnamon then carbonating the blend before packaging

Maybe keep that to yourself, just in case you never know when Coke is listening

The world didn't just like cherry Coke, they practically threw at a welcome parade

Within 10 weeks of hitting the shelves, a wild 91% of people already knew about it

By the end of 1986, it had elbowed its way into the top 10 soft drinks in the country

And this wasn't just a flashy debut. Cherry Coke had staying power

The original Cherry Coke ad campaign positioned the drink as slightly wild and fun, a tagline

that encapsulated the fizzy excitement of a cherry cola that was finally official

In 1990, Coke introduced a fountain-style cherry Coke with more intense cherry flavor

By 1997, marketing took a more youth-focused turn, with graffiti-style graphics and the slogan

Do Something Different. The brand even toured a Sambulance, a tricked-out ambulance that handed out samples at teen-centered events

These late 90s campaigns leaned hard into music, technology, and video games, all in

an effort to align Cherry Coke with the emerging identity of cool, quirky teens

Cherry Coke's enduring popularity speaks to both the strength of its nostalgic roots

and its ability to stay relevant through reinvention. Whether served in a glass over ice or cracked open from a vending machine

it remains a slightly wild favorite