Picking a soda from the massive fridges at a convenience store is overwhelming. With 386 different soda companies in the United States alone, finding the perfect drink to satisfy your soda-sipping needs can seem unexpectedly difficult. Look no further than a red label and a bold white font that reads “Dr. Pepper.” Now, to be honest, it isn’t that simple, because according to the company’s website, there are 14 varieties. So here are our favorites to help narrow it down.
#5: Dr. Pepper: Cherry
With the original soda already having a slight cherry taste, Cherry Dr. Pepper only enhances this exquisite flavor. With that note in mind, there is a reason this soda isn’t higher on our leaderboard. Around three years ago, the recipe for this drink changed and so did many opinions on it, including ours. According to some reviews on the official Dr. Pepper website, Cherry Dr. Pepper has a “cough syrup-like” taste that is unpleasant for some drinkers.
#4: Dr. Pepper: Strawberry and Cream Soda
The additional strawberry and cream flavor makes for a wonderful taste that in turn makes for a great soda, but it just cannot compete with the top three. While the soda has a strawberry-like taste, the vanilla cream makes the soda pop with flavor. Sadly, this taste isn’t for everyone. It has a slight aftertaste and sweetness that people may find unenjoyable.
#3: Dr. Pepper: Cherry Vanilla
When combined, cherry, vanilla, and the original Dr. Pepper flavor create a “Triple Threat” of flavor. The soda is extremely tasty and captures the essence of an amazing soft drink perfectly. However, it isn’t higher on our list because it’s exceedingly difficult to find outside of Texas since it was a limited-time drink. Even if it may be available in a store near you, as soon as it’s back in stock it’s quickly picked off the shelves by eager fans.
#2: Dr. Pepper: Original Soda
Amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, carrot, clove, cherry, caramel, Cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato and vanilla. These are the flavors that combine to make Dr. Pepper, branded by the number 23 shown on the red can. Although the cola and cherry flavors are more apparent than the other 21, the overall flavor sets Dr. Pepper apart from the cola and lemon-lime tastes of other soft drinks. The blend of flavors works so well, and the carbonation’s snap brings it all together. However, there is still one Dr. Pepper that steals the number one spot from the original.
#1: Dr. Pepper: Cream Soda
The original delicious taste of Dr. Pepper combined with the smoothness and slight cream soda flavor creates one beautiful concoction: the perfect soda. The creaminess combats the usual sting of a can of classic Dr. Pepper, making the already fantastic drink even better without costing any more. “It makes me feel as if my mouth is making out with an angel,” chefcurleyfriez said in a five-star review on drpepper.com. “God’s greatest creation was this drink.” Chefcurleyfriez definitely has an interesting way of expressing their love for a drink, but we can’t help but agree.
