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This is an overview article, listing content appearing in multiple Fallout media. For information specific to a given game or TV series, consult the table on the right. |
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This page lists all Nuka-Cola variants.
Background[]
Numerous variants of the Nuka-Cola were introduced, offering different flavors and taste profiles. Joining classic Nuka-Cola, alternative fruit-flavored beverages were an instant success.[1] Its popularity endured long after the Great War. Even when warm, flat and irradiated, it's the soft drink of choice for many wastelanders.[2]
Variants[]
Nuka-Cola[]
Nuka-Cola was the most popular flavored soft drink in the United States before the Great War. After the War, Nuka-Cola is still popular, as large quantities of it were preserved. The classic Nuka-Cola taste is the result of combining seventeen different fruit essences with the classic cola tastes, enhancing, but not overwhelming it.[3] By 2077, Nuka-Cola bottles took on a newer look akin to a rocket ship because of a patent infringement lawsuit, though not all regions of the United States had incorporated this change and the old bottles were still sold in many locations. Advertising also followed suit with the reuse of the space-themed mascot Nuka-Girl.[4]
Nuka-Cola (Ice cold variants)[]
Regular Nuka-Cola which has been chilled. However, it is still irradiated and flat.
Diet Nuka-Cola[]
A diet version of the classic Nuka-Cola.[5]
New-Nuka[]
A retooling of the formula of Nuka-Cola, New-Nuka was a commercial flop. The Nuka-Cola corporation would "walk back" the release some years prior to the Great War, as reported by the Capitol Post.[6]
Nuka-Cherry[]
Cherry Nuka Cola was one of three fruit-flavored variants released a few years after the debut of Nuka-Cola,[1] following the acquisition of Merle's Very Cherry Soda. The original formula was a local, home-brewed pure cherry soft drink. The drink was rebranded and launched with only slight adjustments to the formula, mixed with Nuka-Cola then enhanced with color to boost visual appeal.[7] It proved to be a drink with enduring popularity, though it was largely limited to the East Coast,[8] but was distributed in large quantities in the vicinity of Boston and West Virginia.
Nevertheless, some still considered the cherry variant of Nuka-Cola to be a marketing disaster.[Non-canon 1]
Nuka-Cola Cranberry[]
Conceptualized by the Kanawha Nuka-Cola plant, the idea for the drink came from celery-flavored sparkling waters, as well as mixing artificial flavors, package design and marketing to trick people into thinking it had health benefits.[9] Like many of the fruit variants of Nuka-Cola, this one would predominantly feature cranberries produced in the local region.[10][11] Although predominantly advertised around the Watoga area of Appalachia as "coming soon," some quantities can be found throughout the region.
Nuka-Cola Dark[]
This variant of Nuka-Cola was the company's entrance into the alcoholic beverage market and appealing to the adult demographic. A ready to drink bottle of Nuka-Cola and rum boasting an alcohol-by-volume content of 35%,[12] the beverage was touted as "the most thirst-quenching way to unwind." Those partaking in the drink were recommended to not operate motor vehicles or heavy machinery for at least eight hours after drinking, and women who were pregnant or likely to become so were advised to avoid the drink.[13] Still, it found success in many of the finer lounges and restaurants across the nation.[14] It can be found after the war in locations such as the Nuka-World theme park near Boston, or at the Appalachian Whitespring Resort.
Nuka-Grape[]
Originally sold overseas as Grape-Pearl Soda, Nuka-Grape was born after the Nuka-Cola Corporation acquired the recipe. With no change in flavor profile and only minute adjustments to the formula to maximize profit margins,[15] Nuka-Grape was one of three fruit flavors released shortly after the beverage's debut, to instant success.[1] As with Nuka-Cherry and Nuka-Orange, it was distributed in the eastern United States.[8] It can be found after the war in locations such as the Nuka-World theme-park in the Boston Commonwealth, or at the Appalachian Whitespring Resort.
Nuka-Cola Orange[]
An orange-flavored version of Nuka-Cola, easily distinguished by its orange bottle and the orange slice on its label. Along with Nuka-Cherry and Nuka-Grape, Nuka-Cola Orange was one of the Nuka-Cola Corporation's fruit flavors. It was an instant success[1] among consumers on the East Coast.[8] It was developed under the code name "Fur Seal" with a Pear Brandy as a flavor base with its intense aftertaste cut with trace arsenic.[16]
Nuka-Cola Quantum[]
Nuka-Cola Quantum was created in October 2076 by the Beverageer Division at Nuka-World. It was a byproduct of Project Cobalt, which began in 2076 when Nuka-Cola Corporation engaged in weapons research under U.S. military sponsorship.[17][18] The team found that a strontium-90 isotope derivative, originally developed for military ordnance, created a bright blue glow that worked well as a food additive when adjusted for consumption. The lead Beverageer, Rex Meacham, gave the new drink formula its distinctive name.[19][20]
Live testing of the drink, codenamed "Sea Lion," occurred at other regional facilities. Experimentation with other isotopes showed that none worked as effectively or as safely as strontium-90.[21] Initial testing with the drink led to significant health problems and even deaths among taste testers, but waivers allowed the company to avoid litigation and adjustments created a final product with only mild side effects.[22][23] It ultimately passed inspections supervised by the "Food and Drug Association"[24] and was marketed in the fourth quarter of 2077 as a new flavor of Nuka-Cola with "Twice the calories, twice the carbohydrates, twice the caffeine, and twice the taste!"[25][26][27] The flavor itself was modified via an 18th ingredient: pomegranate fruit flavoring.[28] However, Quantum's appearance and the added isotope were controversial, and the public was divided on the drink.[29] It was released as part of a limited test run, and only the Nuka-Cola plant in Washington, D.C. produced it at a commercial scale before the Great War.[30] Nuka-Cola Quantum was officially released to the public at the same time as the Great War,[citation needed] and so the soda is incredibly rare in the wasteland, with many bottles found in trucks that were shipping the product.
The Washington, D.C. area was the first test market for Quantum, with special "pre-release" shipments delivered to certain grocers and restaurants.[31] The drink can also be found in the Commonwealth and Appalachia, the latter because the Whitespring Resort also received early-release shipments, which are sold by the Nuka-Cola vendor Bubbles.[32]
Mirelurks are especially affected by the Quantum isotope, mutating into Nukalurks.
In Fallout 3, a terminal entry claims that Nuka-Cola Quantum had been in development for three years prior to its test release.[17] This contradicts terminal entries in the Fallout 4 add-on Nuka-World which state that the drink was made in October 2076, with thus less than a year between its creation and test release.[18]
Nuka-Cola Quartz[]
Nuka-Cola Quartz is a flavor of Nuka-Cola that enjoyed a limited release in the American Southwest.[Non-game 1] It remains a rare find in the post-apocalypse.[33] It has a classy look, thanks to the lack of added food colorings but a distinctive white tint and glow.[34] It was developed under the code name "Angry Beaver," during development the beverageers added non-soluble sugar flakes to simulate a quartz-like appearance and to counteract the cavitation issues from previous attempts.[35] The Nuka-Cola Corporation had a trademark battle with Vim! Pop Incorporated over the "Quartz" trademark as Vim was also selling a drink known as Vim Quartz, and Nuka-Cola was successful.[36]
Nuka-Cola Victory[]
Nuka-Cola Victory is a "refreshingly patriotic" flavor of Nuka-Cola that enjoyed a limited release in the American Southwest sometime around January 2077. Its launch was reportedly highly successful, and plans were underway to give the drink a full redesign in 2078, marketed as "a taste as sweet as freedom."[Non-game 2][Non-game 3] It is colored orange with a red, white and blue label, giving it a distinct look, much like Nuka-Cola Quantum. It remains a rare find in the post-apocalypse.[34]
Nuka-Cola Wild[]
Introduced in 2058, Nuka-Cola Wild is a root-based beverage inspired by the soda of choice in the Wild West. It comes in a red bottle and is marked with a red-orange label bearing the legend "Nuka-Wild." This variant was only produced after the Nuka-Cola Corporation was unable to acquire the Sunset Sarsaparilla Company;[37] accordingly, Nuka-Cola Wild was only sold to the public in the American Southwest to directly compete with the well established brand.[34] That being said, supplies of this brand of the drink can be found within the boundaries of the Nuka-World theme-park in the Boston Commonwealth and a special release batch was given to the Whitespring Resort in West Virginia.
Nuka-Cola Twist[]
A variant of Nuka-Cola. It can be found at Nuka-Cola vending machines and mystery machines in Appalachia.
 | The following is based on information from Fallout Tactics. |
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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.
| End of information based on information from Fallout Tactics |
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Unreleased flavors[]
When not buying out the competition, the Nuka-Cola Corporation attempted to stay one step ahead of the competition by creating radically different new flavors and variants of Nuka-Cola.
Nuka-Cola Boost/Black[]
Originally called Packed Full of Joe before being bought out by the Nuka-Cola Corporation, Nuka-Boost was a failed attempt at mixing the flavor profiles of coffee and Nuka-Cola. Developed under the code name "Walrus,"[38] the attempts to mix cola and coffee went poorly and the flavor project was sent back to the drawing board after multiple unfavorable taste tests.[39]
Further development of the coffee formula was made at a West Virginia plant under the name Nuka-Cola Black, codenamed Walrus (NCB02-A6A1). Notes from the unsatisfactory taste tests of coffee were taken into consideration and the mixers there proposed a change of the main additive ingredient from coffee to dextromethamphetamine.[38] Taste tests with this addition were also not particularly successful.[40]
Nuka-Cola Clear[]
After the Nuka-Cola Corporation acquired Sharon's Downhome Country Lemon recipe, they intended to reproduce the soft drink with less expensive ingredients to increase profitability.[41] Nuka-Cola Clear's flavor profile was going to be lemon-lime, but the corporation encountered problems in production, as John-Caleb Bradberton wished to spend available funds producing and promoting the newly formulated Nuka-Cola Quantum instead.
With Nuka-Cola Quartz being promoted at the same time, the marketing team was unsure how to promote both products simultaneously. For these reasons, Bradberton pushed back Nuka-Cola Clear production until at least 2079.[42] The formula was locked away in the Nuka-Cola plant in Arlington, Virginia, sealed by the Great War.[43]
Mixes[]
Several drinks utilizing Nuka-Cola were created by various individuals. The type of drink varied from dessert beverages to alcoholic spirits.
Long Island Ice Tea[]
A Long Island Ice Tea was a relatively popular drink pre-War and remained so after. Comprised of vodka, rum, tequila, triple sec, lime, and a splash of Nuka-Cola.[44]
Nuka-Cola float[]
Nuka-Cola floats formerly sold at a concession stand in Nuka-World's Safari Adventure
An ice cream float made with a combination of Nuka-Cola and ice cream. Sold by both Nuka-Cola Corporation at Nuka-World and others, this dessert beverage was popular up until the Great War when storing ice cream became exceedingly difficult.
Nuka-Cola My Blood's In It[]
This flavor of Nuka-Cola was invented and utilized by the Vault Dweller and the Vault 76 overseer to inoculate the Raiders and Settlers of Appalachia in an attempt to eradicate the Scorched Plague.[45] The drink primarily contains the player character's antibodies, providing immunity. Some individuals who have consumed the soda variant comment on its unpleasant taste.[46] The player character can name the soda "Nuka-Cola My Blood's In It", "Nuka-Cola Vaccinated", or "Nuka-Cola Scorched" in the quest The New Arrivals.
Nukashine[]
A high-proof distilled spirit mixed with Nuka-Cola Quantum and nuclear waste, Nukashine was created by Lewis of the Eta Psi fraternity of Vault-Tec University in November of 2076.[47] The creation was supposed to provide a source of funds for feeding his Nuka-Cola collector's addiction, but wound up catapulting the fraternity to university-wide fame and led Judy Lowell, the chapter president, to set up a speakeasy in the back of Big Al's Tattoo Parlor bearing the same name. The spirit itself is incredibly powerful, causes blackouts, severe hangovers, and is potentially lethal, as the fellow Pi Mu fraternity found out during their "eviction party."[48]
- Sugar-free Nukashine released in a patch with the Fallout 76 update Steel Dawn.
Rum & Nuka[]
Rum & Nuka is popular in the post war world, such as at the Atomic Wrangler Casino, where sales were strong for both Rum & Nuka and Absinthe spirits.[49]
| The following is based on information from Fallout Tactics. |
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Fusion Cola[]
A unique concoction created by Phil, the Nuka-Cola dude, responsible for refilling the Nuka-Cola machines across the wasteland. It was a tradition passed down from generation to generation. 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.
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."
| End of information based on information from Fallout Tactics |
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Mixer station[]
In the Nuka-World amusement park, visitors could choose to mix a variety of soda flavors together at a Nuka-mixer station, resulting in the following products:
Notes[]
- The Pioneer Scouts badge exam mentions a kiwi-flavor Nuka-Cola in the context of a drink that a collector would have a hard time finding implying that it is this way because it does not exist as all other answers to this question do.[50]
- Ice cold variants will never get warm; they will stay chilled indefinitely.
References[]
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Non-game
- ↑ Joshua Sawyer tumblr answer
- ↑ Fallout - A Special LIVE Report from Galaxy News news ticker: "NUKA-COLA PATRIOTICALLY SALUTES SUCCESS OF NEWEST FLAVOR LAUNCH — NUKA-COLA VICTORY. EXCLUSIVE REDESIGN COMING NEXT YEAR WITH 'A TASTE AS SWEET AS FREEDOM' "
- ↑ Fallout - A Special LIVE Report from Galaxy News, ~51:49: "In other sponsored news, Nuka-Cola is celebrating the success of one of their newest flavor launches, Nuka-Cola Victory, with an exclusive redesign release later next year!"
Non-canon
- ↑ "After the marketing disaster that was Cherry, Nuka-Cola attempted to save the brand by introducing the classic. Tastes exactly the same as the original but comes in a new bottle." (Classic Nuka-Cola item description)
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