I think the original "cokes" before 1914 contained opium, or laudenum (the soda counter ones.) The drinks were made up at a pharmacy/drug store, and were sold as a tonic. Folks would come in and ask for a "dope" instead of a coke. Dunno if it was by prescription, or available to everyone.
Soda water by itself is pretty foul stuff to drink, even with whiskey in it.
However, I've heard the term "soda water" applied to 7-Up, which imho, is a darn good drink. "Soda water" is a coloquial, and old school term, but accurate it its description of soda...with sugar, lemon and lime added.
Mountain Dew is "heavy soda water", and in its own sub-class. (Heavily fortified with caffein)
Now, it seems to me there are
two separate and distinct soft drink classifications, aside from Root Beer, which constitutes a third class. But to simplify matters, we could leave that to later discussion. The two main classes are:
1. Cokes, f.g. Royal Crown Cola, Double Cola, Coca Cola,
PepsiCola, Dr. Pepper
2. Soda waters, f.g. Sprite, 7-Up, Mountain Dew...and all
derivatives thereof, including but not limited to, Cherry 7-Up,
Mountain Dew Code Red, etc...
I submit before you, that Grape sodas (NuGrape, Grapico, Grape Crush) and Orange sodas (Orange Crush, MinuteMaid Orange Soda) are, in fact,
sodas by natural extension of adding flavor to soda water, i.e. adding flavor to 7-Up or Sprite.
Just wanted to clear up a few things for you guys. Now get back to work.
Les
