 | This page is about the soft drink. For the pre-War company, see Nuka-Cola Corporation. |
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 | This is an overview article which contains background information and cross-game comparisons. For game-specific information and stats, see the articles linked on the right. |
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Nuka-Cola was the most popular flavored soft drink in the United States before the Great War. After the War, Nuka-Cola remains the most popular soft drink of the post-nuclear world, as much of it was preserved in a fairly pristine state, although it tends to be flat and warm.
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[edit] Background
Nuka-Cola was invented in 2044 by John Caleb-Bradberton. Its unique taste gained widespread popularity quickly, ending with it becoming the most popular soft drink in the United States with an extremely dedicated following. The widely known Dazzling Blue bottle color was adopted as standard in 2052, after market research programs indicated that the blue color was the favorite in 86 people out of a hundred polled.
The ingredients of Nuka-Cola are: carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate (to protect taste), natural flavors, citric acid, and caffeine.[1] Some versions of the drink also include vitaminerals and health tonics. What gives it the unique flavor is the essence of seventeen different fruits mixed in just the right proportion to give the beverage its trademark taste. During the Great Passion Fruit Famine of 2044, people actually noticed the taste difference when the recipe was changed. In addition to passion fruit, the recipe for homebrewed Nuka Cola featured in Fallout: New Vegas implies that 2 of the 17 fruits used in the drink are agave and barrel cactus.
By 2067, vending machines with ice cold Nuka-Cola could be found on virtually every street in America.
[edit] Variants
[edit] Nuka-Cola
Nuka-Cola was the most popular flavored soft drink in the United States before the Great War. Even after the War, Nuka-Cola remains the most popular soft drink of the post-nuclear world, as much of it was preserved in a relatively pristine state, although it tends to be warm, irradiated and flat.
[edit] Ice cold Nuka-Cola
Ice cold Nuka-Cola is a rare wasteland commodity that is the result of placing a bottle of Nuka-Cola in rare functioning refrigeration units. It may be chilled, but it is still irradiated and flat.
[edit] Canned Nuka-Cola
Canned Nuka-Cola was exactly the same as bottled Nuka-Cola, but in the continence of a pull-off top can. Although not as popular on the west and east coasts as the more common bottled version of Nuka-Cola, canned Nuka-Cola found its place in the Midwest regions of the United States where it supplied the use of ring pulls instead of bottle caps.
[edit] Diet Nuka-Cola
There also existed a diet version of classic Nuka-Cola likely marketed with fewer calories and grams of sugars. [2]
[edit] Nuka-Cola Quantum
In 2077, a new version called Nuka-Cola Quantum was introduced. According to the advertisements, it had twice the calories, twice the carbohydrates, twice the caffeine and twice the taste. To make it stand out more on the shelves and to give it an extra kick, the Quantum included a mild radioactive strontium isotope (and an eighteenth fruit flavor - pomegranate). The effect was a drink that not only boosted your energy, but also glowed with a bright blue light. While no ill effects were recorded by the Food and Drug Administration, the isotope also caused the drinker's urine to glow.
Reports that can be obtained in the Nuka-Cola Factory show that product development had not been without failures and casualties. Ultimately, according to Milo the Shipping Foreman, the company found a suitable isotope in strontium-90. The product was made in small experimental groups, which were then sent out around Washington, D.C. for feedback. Unfortunately, while the product was being sent out for response, some of the packages were caught out in the Great War.
[edit] Nuka-Cola Clear
The Nuka-Cola company also began to develop a product called Nuka-Cola Clear, with only minimal loss of life. They were able to modify the look of Nuka-Cola but give it the same great taste. The formula and some entries on a research terminal can be found in the Nuka-Cola Plant, but it was never produced.
[edit] Nuka-Cola Quartz
Nuka-Cola Quartz is a flavor of Nuka-Cola unique to the American southwest, in a similar sort of situation to Nuka-Cola Quantum. It is a clear drink with no coloring, much like the Nuka-Cola Clear. This version of the soft drink also gives you Low-Light Vision, much like Cateye.
[edit] Nuka-Cola Victory
Nuka-Cola Victory is another flavor of Nuka-Cola that is unique to the American southwest. It is colored orange, giving it a distinct look much like the Nuka-Cola Quantum of the east coast.
[edit] Cherry Nuka-Cola
 | The following is based on Fallout Tactics and some details might contradict canon. |
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Cherry Nuka-Cola is a variation of regular Nuka-Cola. After it was introduced, it turned out that nobody liked the taste. This resulted in a marketing disaster for the company, which quickly attempted to save the brand by introducing the Classic Nuka-Cola, tasting exactly like the original but in a new bottle. The story of its introduction, rejection, and replacement by Classic Nuka-Cola mimics that of New Coke.
[edit] Classic Nuka-Cola
| The following is based on Fallout Tactics and some details might contradict canon. |
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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.
[edit] Yellow Nuka-Cola
| The following is based on Fallout Tactics and some details might contradict canon. |
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Yellow Nuka-Cola is a "variation" of regular Nuka-Cola, yellow in color with an "interesting" smell. In Chicago, during the Brotherhood of Steel 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". Considering this, and the fact that it's poisonous to anyone with the temerity to actually drink it, it is apparent that the so-called cola is in fact a generous helping of urine.
[edit] Fusion Cola
| The following is based on Fallout Tactics and some details might contradict canon. |
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Phil, the Nuka-Cola dude, had the thankless job of riding around the Wasteland with his bike and refilling all of the Nuka-Cola machines that littered it. It was a tradition passed down (rather stupidly) from generation to generation. Phil was not impressed and doesn't like Nuka-Cola that much. 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.
[edit] Behind the scenes
- During the 2008 E3 as a promotional item, people were given a real drinkable version of Nuka-Cola. It greatly resembles the 1950s look of the Coca-Cola brand bottles.
- The name of the Nuka-Cola creator, John Caleb-Bradberton, is an amalgamation of the inventors of Coca-Cola (John Pemberton) and Pepsi-Cola (Caleb Bradham).
- Its logos, bottle designs, market crash, and even its name are heavily based on Coca-Cola.
[edit] Gallery
A Nuka-Cola billboard in Fallout 3.
Concept art by Adam Adamowicz of the Nuka-Cola billboard
A Nuka-Cola billboard in Fallout Tactics
A photo of the bottle prop given out at E3 2008
