11 Discontinued Beverages That Made a Comeback Briefly
These are discontinued beverages that briefly returned to shelves, fueled by nostalgia and fan demand.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Many discontinued drinks made surprise comebacks, only to vanish again after short-lived excitement. Nostalgia and pop culture tie-ins played major roles in their revivals, from Crystal Pepsi to New Coke. While fans celebrated these brief returns, most of these beverages were destined to remain cult favorites rather than permanent staples.
1. Crystal Pepsi
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Crystal Pepsi originally launched in the early 1990s as a caffeine-free, clear cola that puzzled soda drinkers. After disappearing for decades, it was brought back in 2015 and again in 2016 as part of Pepsi’s nostalgic marketing push. Fans rushed to stores, but the revival was short-lived, making it more of a novelty than a permanent return.
2. Surge
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Coca-Cola’s citrusy Surge was first released in 1996 as a competitor to Mountain Dew but was discontinued in the early 2000s. Thanks to an online fan campaign, Coke brought it back in 2014, but only through Amazon before eventually hitting select stores. Its second life was brief, though it proved the power of nostalgia and internet fandom.
3. New Coke
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New Coke is infamous for replacing the original Coca-Cola formula in 1985, only to be pulled after customer outrage. Surprisingly, Coca-Cola revived New Coke in 2019 as part of a promotional tie-in with Netflix’s Stranger Things. The soda came back for a limited time, giving fans a rare chance to taste a piece of history.
4. Hi-C Ecto Cooler
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This neon-green, citrus-flavored drink tied to Ghostbusters was a 1980s and 1990s childhood staple. It was discontinued in 2001, but Coca-Cola and Minute Maid revived it in 2016 to coincide with the new Ghostbusters film. Despite strong demand, it disappeared again almost as quickly as it reappeared.
5. Crystal Clear Pepsi Blue Hawaii (Japan)
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In the late 2000s, Pepsi Japan released quirky flavors, one of the most famous being Pepsi Blue Hawaii, a pineapple and lemon soda. While not a global release, it created a stir online and briefly returned to stores after being discontinued. Its comeback was limited and mostly for novelty appeal rather than long-term sales.
6. Tab
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Tab, Coca-Cola’s first diet soda, launched in the 1960s and had a devoted following until it was discontinued in 2020. After fan outcry, Coke produced limited runs of Tab in 2021, though it never officially reentered permanent circulation. The comeback highlighted the nostalgia factor but ultimately couldn’t justify staying on shelves.
7. Vault
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Vault, a hybrid between an energy drink and a soda, was introduced by Coca-Cola in 2005 before being discontinued in 2011. It briefly returned in 2015 for select markets where fans had demanded its revival. Even so, it disappeared quickly, showing that short bursts of hype could not sustain long-term sales.
8. Pepsi Blue
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Pepsi Blue was launched in 2002 as a berry-flavored cola but was discontinued after just two years. Nearly two decades later, Pepsi revived it in 2021 for a short, limited release in the U.S. The neon-blue drink gained plenty of attention but did not stick around for long.
9. OK Soda
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OK Soda was Coca-Cola’s 1990s attempt to reach Generation X with bold marketing and an unusual flavor. It was discontinued after poor sales, but small test batches and nostalgia-driven releases occasionally brought it back in limited quantities. Its cult following still ensures periodic revivals, even if only briefly.
10. Mountain Dew Pitch Black
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Mountain Dew Pitch Black, a grape-flavored version of the classic soda, debuted in 2004 for a limited Halloween release. After several discontinuations, it made a few comebacks, most notably in 2011 and again in 2023 during a fan-voted flavor competition. Each return was short, but fans always celebrated its eerie, bold taste.
11. 7UP Gold
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The 7UP Gold was a spiced soda with a unique taste that confused fans when it debuted in 1988. It quickly vanished but resurfaced in small regional test markets years later, mostly as a curiosity. The brief comeback demonstrated how unusual flavors can sometimes gain cult status despite their short shelf life.