12 Drinks You Only Tried Because of the Commercials
These drinks became famous not for their flavor, but for the catchy ads that convinced everyone to give them a shot.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read

Advertising has the power to make a product seem irresistible. Beverage companies have poured millions into flashy campaigns that made people curious enough to buy a bottle or can. Here are 12 drinks that you probably only tried because of their unforgettable commercials.
1. Pepsi Blue
Hostagecat on Wikimedia Commons
This electric-blue soda hit shelves in 2002 with ads targeting a younger crowd. The berry-flavored cola stood out visually, and the bold marketing made it impossible to ignore.
2. Orbitz
Scott Schiller on Flickr
Marketed in the mid-1990s, Orbitz looked like a lava lamp in a bottle with floating colorful beads. The futuristic ads played up its “out of this world” vibe.
3. Jolt Cola
Kimmy Lindell Ekström on Wikimedia Commons
Jolt promised “all the sugar and twice the caffeine,” and its ads leaned into rebellion and energy. Teenagers and college students bought it just to see if the hype was real.
4. Capri Sun
Like_the_Grand_Canyon on Flickr
The commercials featuring kids morphing into silver liquid and zooming around made this pouch drink irresistible. It wasn’t just juice; it looked like a superpower.
5. Surge
Magnus Kolstad on Flickr
Coca-Cola’s wild ads in the late ‘90s showed extreme stunts and high-energy chaos. It was marketed as the ultimate fuel for thrill-seekers.
6. SunnyD
Willis Lam on Flickr
The iconic ad of kids raiding the fridge and grabbing Sunny Delight instead of milk or soda stuck in everyone’s memory. It positioned the drink as the “cool kid” option.
7. 7UP with the Cool Spot
earthwormjimfan on DeviantArt
In the 1990s, 7UP introduced a quirky red mascot named Cool Spot. The commercials and even video games pushed the drink into pop culture. Fans bought it more for the character than the lemon-lime flavor.
8. Coca-Cola’s New Coke
Like_the_Grand_Canyon on Flickr
The launch campaign for New Coke in 1985 was massive, with commercials promising a “better taste.” People bought it in droves out of curiosity.
9. Mountain Dew Code Red
Like_the_Grand_Canyon on Flickr
Launched with flashy, high-octane commercials, Code Red targeted gamers and adrenaline junkies. The bold cherry flavor was secondary to the edgy marketing.
10. Sprite with Hip-Hop Icons
Valentina Tamayo on Unsplash
Sprite commercials featuring hip-hop stars in the 1990s and 2000s made the drink part of the culture. The ads felt fresh and connected with younger audiences.
11. Kool-Aid Man Commercials
showbiz kids on Flickr
The “Oh Yeah!” Kool-Aid Man bursting through walls was unforgettable. Kids begged for Kool-Aid just to feel part of the fun.
12. Dr Pepper’s “I’m a Pepper” Campaign
Holy-DYVR on Wikimedia Commons
The catchy jingle and dancing commercials made Dr Pepper feel like a club you had to join. The ads worked so well that even people unsure of the taste gave it a shot.