In the 2000s, soda experimentation was at an all-time high, with major brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite and Mountain Dew rolling out a seemingly endless stream of new concepts. Coming off the fruity flavors, saturated colors and extreme advertisements of the 90s, the early 2000s ushered in an era of neon colors, wild flavor mashups and some truly unforgettable experiments.
To honor some of the most creative swings of the decade, we put together a list of 7 iconic 2000s sodas that earned a massive following and then quietly disappeared without a trace. Some were ahead of their time, others simply fell short of expectations and a few are still begging for a comeback. Follow along to see which ones you remember, and let us know if we missed any of your favorites.
2000s Sodas That Quietly Disappeared
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Born in 1997 but very much a cult favorite heading into the early 2000s, Surge was Coca-Cola's answer to Mountain Dew, known for its bright green color, tangy citrus flavor and extreme sports-inspired marketing. At the time, Surge amassed a massive following among teens and young adults, though it eventually suffered a decline in sales and was discontinued in 2002.
2. Pepsi Blue
Yet another attempt to challenge Mountain Dew's dominance, Pepsi Blue was introduced in 2002 as an answer to the wildly popular Code Red. This electric-blue soft drink paired cola with a sweet berry flavor, creating a vibrant, hard-to-miss product on store shelves. And while the novelty of Pepsi Blue helped it become an instant hit among teens, selling an impressive 17 million cases in its first year, its popularity quickly faded. By 2003, the soda had largely disappeared from store shelves before being discontinued the following year.
Easily one of the most popular experiments of the era, Sprite Remix was Coca-Cola’s attempt to put a fresh spin on its classic lemon-lime soda by launching an entire line of fruit-infused variations. Debuting in 2003 with Sprite Tropical Remix, the lineup eventually expanded to include BerryClear Remix and Aruba Jam Remix, giving fans a range of colorful takes on the iconic soft drink.
4. Coke BlāK
If you were around for the early 2000s, you might remember just how much the popularity of Starbucks flipped the beverage industry on its head. And seeing as Coca-Cola at the time had yet to offer a coffee-based beverage, this was the soda giant’s chance to capitalize on the trend. Coca-Cola BlāK was born in 2006, blending classic cola with a shot of rich coffee essence.
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After its initial run, Mountain Dew Pitch Black earned enough positive feedback to secure several limited releases and variations over the years, including a sour alternative in 2005 known as Pitch Black II. But despite its strong fan following and repeated comebacks, Pitch Black never found a permanent place in the lineup, as its fruity flavor and slightly tangy edge eventually faded out of existence.
6. Vault
Standing out in the mid-2000s for its bright neon packaging and loud, aggressive marketing, Vault was aimed at younger consumers, but it ultimately lost momentum as interest in hybrid soda-energy drinks eventually faded. Vault was discontinued in 2011, though over time it became a nostalgic reminder of the creative swings brands regularly took in the 2000s in the name of innovation.
7. Dr Pepper Berries & Cream
Despite high expectations of success, Berries & Cream didn’t achieve anywhere near the level of popularity as its Cherry Vanilla predecessor, and it was pulled from shelves after just a few short months. That said, it did make a brief comeback in 2022, with an extremely limited rewards program giveaway through Pepper Perks, Dr Pepper’s digital rewards platform. And while it is still discontinued to this day, the flavor’s short lifespan and multiple half-comebacks easily cement its status as one of the early 2000s’ more memorable experiments.
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