# The underuse of Dr Pepper in cocktails **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024 "2013-02-11T21:23:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/41 "2013-02-13T01:00:26Z")
Heck, I’ve got some Diet Dr Pepper and several types of liquor in the house right now. I’m mixing 5 mL of each liquor with 45 mL of soda in an attempt to get the approximate flavor without getting drunk. So, in the interest of science: New Amsterdam gin: Okay. The flavors of the soda seem to overwhelm the juniper, except right after you’ve taken a sip and you get a bit of the juniper on the tongue. Otherwise I’d suspect it’d be very similar to vodka. Cruzan 9 spiced rum: Works well with the complex flavors of the soda. Somewhat sweet without being too sweet. Laird’s applejack: Strong bite from the whiskey at the end. The apple works nicely with the other flavors. Would have to try a bourbon or something to see what other whiskeys are like. Unfortunately I’m out of Wild Turkey. Bärenjäger honey and bourbon: Way too sweet, kinda woody. Suspect that other bourbons would be similar, just not as sweet. So, for those four, it might work with a spiced rum or apple whiskey. Don’t use anything with honey. Gin is a wash; I suspect it’s similar to vodka. I don’t think bourbon would work well. I know from previous experience that tequila is a bad idea. Basically, other posters are right. There’s probably too complex a flavor in Dr Pepper to make for a good mixer with most liquors. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/42 "2013-02-13T01:13:35Z")
I guess I should say that whiskey is the wrong word for applejack. I’m just not sure what to call it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/43 "2013-02-13T01:16:12Z")
This confirms my theory that the best science is conducted after 4:00. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/44 "2013-02-13T01:20:14Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > In my younger days when I was a much less experienced drinker, I really enjoyed Dr. Pepper mixed w/ Malibu Rum. The coconut flavor mixed really well w/ the Pepper. Way too sweet for me these days though. Back in my amateur days I found I could easily down Dr Pepper and Southern Comfort at a 50:50 mix, but when I turned pro I found Diet 50/50 goes better with vodka. Lots of vodka. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/45 "2013-02-13T01:25:47Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I have a faint memory of an add campaign for warm Dr Pepper. This whole thread is an _add_ campaign for Dr Pepper. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/46 "2013-02-13T01:28:51Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > This confirms my theory that the best science is conducted after 4:00. You should listen to a bunch of chemists talk shop sometime over beer. I guarantee it will always wind up being stories of fires and explosions, preferably ones done by labmates. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/47 "2013-02-13T01:31:34Z")
Dr Pepper is my go to mix in most drinks. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/48 "2013-02-13T01:57:58Z")
I don’t think Dr Pepper is more complex per se. I think that it is less balanced than Coke. I could see dark rum working. I could also see some various flavored vodkas being good. Maybe a vanilla or even a chocolate flavor. It might be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/49 "2013-02-13T03:26:38Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > You should listen to a bunch of chemists talk shop sometime over beer. I guarantee it will always wind up being stories of fires and explosions, preferably ones done by labmates. Drinking outa beakers?😃 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/50 "2013-02-13T04:14:33Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > I don’t think Dr Pepper is more complex per se. I think that it is less balanced than Coke. > I could see dark rum working. I could also see some various flavored vodkas being good. Maybe a vanilla or even a chocolate flavor. It might be interesting. Rum & Dr. Pepper is a strange, overly sweet (IMO) combination. That’s probably the biggest stumbling block to mixing Dr. Pepper with anything other than vodka- it’s already very sweet, both in aroma and in flavor, and adding something like bourbon or rum to it just amplifies that sweetness beyond what most people like. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/51 "2013-02-13T04:30:03Z")
It’s good with SoCo! Don’t have it much though. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/52 "2013-02-13T13:20:37Z")
Parts of South American have a Coke and red wine drink mixed at a 1:1 ratio. It is surprisingly good. I can image old doc P could work too. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/53 "2013-02-13T15:13:57Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Parts of South American have a Coke and red wine drink mixed at a 1:1 ratio. I’ve seen that in Slovenia, as well, under the name “diesel.” ETA: [Actually, a whole Wikipedia article about it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalimotxo) and its names around the world. According to that site, it’s called _bambus_ or _musolini_ in Slovenia, but I was served it as “diesel.” ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/54 "2013-02-13T16:11:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’ve seen that in Slovenia, as well, under the name “diesel.” ETA: [Actually, a whole Wikipedia article about it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalimotxo) and its names around the world. According to that site, it’s called _bambus_ or _musolini_ in Slovenia, but I was served it as “diesel.” It’s not bad. I plan to try with Dr Pepper now. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/55 "2013-02-13T16:15:34Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > It’s not bad. I plan to try with Dr Pepper now. It was a reasonable way to cover up and stretch mid-grade wine. Not something I really would drink with any regularity. I prefer club soda + wine (i.e., a spritzer) when I want to add fizz/dilute/stretch table wine. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/56 "2013-02-13T16:19:59Z")
I know that a lot of people like the Cherry Dr Pepper and Vanilla Dr Pepper flavours, so throwing cherry or vanilla vodka in might make a nice drink. Oh wait, I forgot, unless it’s top shelf vodka, rum, gin or whiskey the Dope doesn’t count it as ‘real’ alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/57 "2013-02-13T16:39:46Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Oh wait, I forgot, unless it’s top shelf vodka, rum, gin or whiskey the Dope doesn’t count it as ‘real’ alcohol. Nertz to them. Drink what you want. I like sweet cocktails. I never had less than 2/3rds a bottle of malibu in my apartment in college and diet dr pepper was my favorite mixer. Currently, my favorite cocktail is diet ginger ale, amaretto and a splash of bourbon and I’m not embarrassed about it. I don’t pretend to be a classy person and I drink to enjoy myself, not to satisfy some rando’s idea of the true liquor appreciator. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/58 "2013-02-13T16:43:20Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Oh wait, I forgot, unless it’s top shelf vodka, rum, gin or whiskey the Dope doesn’t count it as ‘real’ alcohol. You know, never noticed this kind of snobbery here. There may be playful discussion, but I don’t believe anyone really gives a shit what you drink. I’m tired of this stupid, strawman hipster meme here. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/59 "2013-02-14T01:14:30Z")
In terms of the OP, what it comes down to is in terms of alcohol mixers there’s fruit juices, bar mixes, and carbonated soft drinks. And in terms of soft drinks you really only need the two basic (but very different) flavors of cola or lemon/lime (i.e. 7Up). All the other flavors are the responsibility of spirits, not soda-pop (the point of an alcoholic beverage is the alcohol). Any other soda besides Coke or 7Up is just, ah, for kids. Dr Pepper, Orange, Root Beer, Mountain Dew etc. all have too strong and juvenile a taste to be suitable for a mixer. Sort of like asking for a Crazy Straw with your cocktail! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024/60 "2013-02-14T01:22:33Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > I know that a lot of people like the Cherry Dr Pepper and Vanilla Dr Pepper flavours, so throwing cherry or vanilla vodka in might make a nice drink. > > Oh wait, I forgot, unless it’s top shelf vodka, rum, gin or whiskey the Dope doesn’t count it as ‘real’ alcohol. Ha! I’m drinking a seltzer water with Mike’s Hard Winter Blackberry at the moment. 😃 (Truth be told, I hate blackberry anything that isn’t a blackberry, but I’m out of Mio at the moment, and the seltzer needed a little fruitiness. The Mike’s is much tastier watered down, but now there’s about as much alcohol in here as in a banana.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-underuse-of-dr-pepper-in-cocktails/650024.md?page=2)