Rare soft drinks

Rare soft drinks

Soft drinks, which originated as flavored and carbonated elixirs in the late 1800s and became especially popular during the Prohibition era, have long been associated with the region in which they were first developed. While some brands have branched out from their humble beginnings — Coca-Cola is sold in more than 200 countries and territories throughout the world — others have maintained a more localized appeal. Here are 11 lesser-known soft drinks and the stories behind their regional ties.

When a sugar shortage at the start of World War I made it difficult for L.D. Peeler to sweeten his Salisbury, NC-based bottling company’s popular Mint Cola, Peeler began looking for a less sweet, but equally tasty, alternative. The local businessman purchased a wild cherry flavor from a St. Louis salesman and developed the formula for Cheerwine in the basement of his grocery store in 1917.

Rare soft drinks

Rare soft drinks

Rare soft drinks

Rare soft drinks

Rare soft drinks

Rare soft drinks

Rare soft drinks

Rare soft drinks

Rare soft drinks