The Real Thing Trivia Quiz

Answer: Coca-Cola

Coca‑Cola began in 1886 as a drink created by Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton. Originally sold as a patent medicine, it gradually evolved into a beverage enjoyed for its taste rather than for any claimed health benefits. As the business expanded under Asa Candler, Coca‑Cola was increasingly marketed as a drink people could enjoy every day. One of its earliest slogans, "Delicious and Refreshing," appeared in 1904 and helped reinforce that transition.

The slogan was simple and memorable. Instead of making grand claims, it focused on two things people could immediately understand: taste and refreshment. In doing so, it introduced an idea that would remain at the heart of Coca‑Cola advertising for generations. No matter how the company's messaging changed over the years, it kept coming back to the same basic promise: Coca‑Cola was a refreshing drink meant to be enjoyed.

In the years that followed, Coca‑Cola rolled out a long series of slogans, including:

1905 - "Coca‑Cola Revives and Sustains"
1906 - "The Great National Temperance Beverage"
1917 - "Three Million a Day"
1922 - "Thirst Knows No Season"
1923 - "Enjoy Thirst"
1924 - "Refresh Yourself"
1925 - "Six Million a Day"
1926 - "It Had to Be Good to Get Where It Is"
1927 - "Pure as Sunlight"
1927 - "Around the Corner from Everywhere"
1929 - "The Pause that Refreshes"
1932 - "Ice Cold Sunshine"
1938 - "The Best Friend Thirst Ever Had"
1939 - "Thirst Asks Nothing More"
1939 - "Whoever You Are, Whatever You Do, Wherever You May Be, When You Think of Refreshment Think of Ice Cold Coca‑Cola"
1942 - "The Only Thing Like Coca‑Cola is Coca‑Cola Itself"
1948 - "Where There's Coke There's Hospitality"
1949 - "Along the Highway to Anywhere"
1952 - "What You Want is a Coke"
1956 - "Coca‑Cola... Makes Good Things Taste Better"

Answer: Coca-Cola

By 1957, Coca‑Cola was no longer selling itself simply as a refreshing drink. It had become one of the world's best-known consumer brands, and its advertising increasingly linked Coca‑Cola with lifestyle and image. The slogan "Sign of Good Taste" reflected that change. Rather than focusing only on flavour, the message suggested that choosing Coca‑Cola was itself a mark of good judgment and sophistication. The familiar Coca‑Cola script and contour bottle had become so recognizable that they were being presented as symbols of quality in their own right.

The campaign reflected the optimism of the late 1950s, a time of growing prosperity and consumer confidence. Advertisements often showed attractive, self-assured people enjoying Coca‑Cola in social settings, reinforcing the idea that it belonged in modern everyday life. By the late 1950s, Coca‑Cola was selling more than a drink; it was selling an image of good taste, social connection, and contemporary living.

Coca‑Cola's next chapter included slogans such as:

1958 - "The Cold, Crisp Taste of Coke"
1959 - "Be Really Refreshed"
1963 - "Things Go Better with Coke"
1969 - "It's the Real Thing"
1971 - "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke" (part of the "It's the Real Thing" campaign)
1975 - "Look Up America"
1976 - "Coke Adds Life"
1979 - "Have a Coke and a Smile"
1982 - "Coke Is It!"
1985 - "We've Got a Taste for You" (for both Coca‑Cola & Coca‑Cola classic)
1985 - "America's Real Choice" (for both Coca‑Cola & Coca‑Cola classic)
1986 - "Red, White & You" (for Coca‑Cola classic)

Answer: Coca-Cola

In 1986, Coca‑Cola was still dealing with the fallout from the New Coke controversy. The company had introduced a reformulated Coke in 1985, only to face a wave of consumer backlash that led to the return of the original formula as Coca‑Cola Classic. In this unusual situation, Coca‑Cola found itself marketing two different colas at the same time. The slogan "Catch the Wave" was created specifically for the newer formula, positioning it as a product that belonged to the future rather than the past. Coca‑Cola Classic, meanwhile, was promoted through a separate campaign aimed at consumers who preferred the original taste.

Coca‑Cola wasn't trying to reassure consumers here - it was trying to excite them. "Catch the Wave" tapped into the decade's enthusiasm for youth culture, pop music, fashion, and the idea of being part of the next big thing. Rather than focusing on taste or refreshment, the campaign encouraged consumers to embrace change and try something new. At a time when many people were questioning New Coke, the slogan presented the reformulated drink as the modern choice.

The following decades brought another series of memorable slogans:

1987 - "When Coca‑Cola is a Part of Your Life, You Can't Beat the Feeling"
1988 - "You Can't Beat the Feeling"
1989 - "Official Soft Drink of Summer"
1990 - "You Can't Beat the Real Thing"
1993 - "Always Coca‑Cola"
2000 - "Coca‑Cola. Enjoy"
2001 - "Life Tastes Good"
2003 - "Coca‑Cola ... Real"
2005 - "Make It Real"
2006 - "The Coke Side of Life"
2009 - "Open Happiness"

Answer: Coca-Cola

When "Taste the Feeling" launched in 2016, Coca‑Cola was operating in a very different marketplace from the one that had produced many of its classic campaigns. Consumers had more beverage choices than ever, including bottled water, sports drinks, energy drinks, and a growing range of low- and no-sugar soft drinks. In response, Coca‑Cola introduced a global campaign that brought Coca‑Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, and other variants together under a single brand identity. Rather than promoting one particular product, the campaign focused on the simple act of enjoying a Coke, regardless of which version consumers chose.

Instead of focusing on status, trends, or lifestyle aspirations, "Taste the Feeling" highlighted simple everyday moments - a meal with friends, a break during the day, a celebration, or a small personal reward. The campaign suggested that a Coke could fit naturally into these experiences. By putting the emphasis back on taste and enjoyment, the campaign reconnected modern Coca‑Cola advertising with ideas that stretched all the way back to "Delicious and Refreshing" in 1904: that Coca‑Cola should taste good, feel refreshing, and fit naturally into daily life.

Answer: Pepsi-Cola

Pepsi-Cola began as "Brad's Drink," a beverage created by North Carolina pharmacist Caleb Bradham in 1893. Renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898, the drink was marketed as something that could aid digestion and promote general well-being. Against this backdrop, the slogan "Delicious and Healthful" appeared in 1909 and remained a central part of Pepsi's advertising for roughly three decades.

The slogan would have sounded perfectly natural to consumers in the early twentieth century. Rather than choosing between taste and health, Pepsi suggested that people could enjoy both. While the word "healthful" would feel out of place in modern soft-drink advertising, it fit comfortably into an era when beverages were often promoted using claims about vitality and digestion. Before Pepsi became known for its emphasis on lifestyle, youth, and popular culture, it presented itself as a wholesome and respectable drink that happened to taste good.

Over the next several decades, Pepsi's advertising gradually moved away from health-focused messaging and toward themes of value, refreshment, and everyday life. Along the way, it introduced slogans such as:

1939 - "Twice As Much For A Nickel Too"
1950 - "More Bounce to the Ounce"
1950 - "The Light Refreshment"
1950 - "Any Weather is Pepsi Weather"

Answer: Pepsi-Cola

By the early 1950s, Pepsi was no longer emphasizing health benefits or value pricing as heavily as it once had. Instead, the company began associating its product with social occasions and everyday interactions. Introduced in 1953, the slogan "Be Sociable, Have a Pepsi" reflected this change. Rather than focusing on what Pepsi was, the campaign focused on what people were doing while drinking it. Advertisements showed friends, families, and co-workers sharing Pepsi in relaxed social settings, presenting the drink as a natural part of spending time together.

The slogan showed how Pepsi's advertising was beginning to change. Earlier campaigns emphasized health, value, and refreshment; now the focus was on people and the occasions where they gathered together. The drink became a social accessory rather than simply a beverage, helping establish a marketing approach that would influence many future Pepsi campaigns.

Over the next four decades, Pepsi increasingly focused on youth, popular culture, and lifestyle, introducing slogans such as:

1958 - "Say Pepsi, Please"
1961 - "Now It's Pepsi For Those Who Think Young"
1963 - "Come Alive! You're in the Pepsi Generation"
1967 - "Taste That Beats the Others Cold. Pepsi Pours It On"
1969 - "You've Got a Lot to Live, Pepsi's Got a Lot to Give"
1973 - "Join the Pepsi People, Feelin' Free"
1975 - "Have a Pepsi Day"
1978 - "Catch That Pepsi Spirit"
1981 - "Pepsi's Got Your Taste for Life"
1983 - "Pepsi Now!"
1984 - "Pepsi. The Choice of a New Generation"
1989 - "A Generation Ahead"
1992 - "Gotta Have It"
1993 - "Be Young. Have Fun. Drink Pepsi."

Answer: Pepsi-Cola

In 1997, Pepsi's long-running focus on youth culture took another step forward with the slogan "Generation Next." Earlier campaigns such as "The Pepsi Generation" and "The Choice of a New Generation" had encouraged consumers to see Pepsi as the choice of younger, forward-looking people. "Generation Next" continued that approach. Rather than speaking to one specific age group, it focused on the idea of what comes next-new trends, new attitudes, and a constantly changing culture.

The campaign appeared during an era when celebrity endorsements, music videos, and global media events played an increasingly important role in advertising. Pepsi's marketing featured major musicians, athletes, and entertainers, reinforcing its long-standing connection to contemporary culture. With "Generation Next," Pepsi invited consumers to see themselves as part of whatever came next. The slogan updated Pepsi's youth-focused message for the approaching twenty-first century.

Pepsi's next campaigns reflected changing tastes in advertising, including:

1999 - "The Joy of Cola"
2001 - "The Joy of Pepsi"
2003 - "It's the Cola"
2005 - "Dare for More"
2007 - "More Happy"
2008 - "Refresh Everything"
2009 - "Every Generation Refreshes the World"
2012 - "Live for Now"
2018 - "For the Love of It"

Answer: Pepsi-Cola

When "That's What I Like" appeared in 2020, Pepsi was advertising in a marketplace shaped by social media, streaming services, and an endless range of consumer choices. The slogan reflected a simpler, more personal approach. Rather than telling consumers what generation they belonged to or what lifestyle they should aspire to, Pepsi focused on individual preference and enjoyment.

The campaign took a different approach from Pepsi's generation-based advertising of previous decades. Where earlier campaigns encouraged consumers to join a generation, a movement, or a cultural trend, "That's What I Like" celebrated personal choice. The message was straightforward: drink Pepsi because you enjoy it. More than a century after Pepsi promoted itself as "Delicious and Healthful," the company was still finding new ways to connect with consumers - this time by emphasizing individual preference rather than belonging to a generation.

Answer: RC Cola

RC Cola traces its roots to Georgia pharmacist and businessman Claud Hatcher, whose company introduced Royal Crown Cola in 1934 after years of producing other soft drinks. Unlike Coca‑Cola and Pepsi, RC lacked the resources of a national market leader, so it often relied on direct comparisons to attract consumers. The slogan "Best by Taste Test," introduced in the early 1940s, reflected that approach. Rather than relying on its history or market share, RC asked consumers to judge the cola on taste alone. Celebrity endorsements and public taste tests became important parts of the campaign, helping RC establish itself as a credible alternative in a market dominated by larger competitors. RC was still the outsider, but it was making the case that taste - not size - should decide the winner.

RC's next campaign continued to emphasize taste and product quality:

1956 - "Better Taste Calls for RC!"

Answer: RC Cola

By the late 1950s, RC was building on the reputation it had established through taste-test advertising. Introduced in 1959, the slogan "The Fresher Refresher" shifted attention from comparison to product experience. At a time when Coca‑Cola and Pepsi were increasingly linking their products to lifestyle and image, RC focused on freshness and flavour. The company promoted the idea that its cola was made fresher and tasted better, giving consumers a practical reason to choose RC over better-known brands. The campaign reinforced RC's preference for talking about the product itself rather than the image surrounding it.

The slogans that followed continued RC's focus on product quality and consumer judgment:

1962 - "Royal Crown Is Made Fresher to Taste Fresher"
1963 - "Go Fresher with RC"
1964 - "Go Fresher - Go RC!"
1967 - "Escape - Come On Over to RC Cola"
1970 - "We Cool Off Hot Towns"
1972 - "The One You Loved Is Back"
1974 - "RC - It's Just Right for You"
1975 - "Me and My RC"
1981 - "Taste the One That Won"
1985 - "Some People Go Out of Their Way for the Taste of RC"

Answer: RC Cola

By the late 1980s, the cola wars between Coca‑Cola and Pepsi had produced some of the most aggressive advertising in the soft-drink industry. RC took a different approach. The slogan "Decide for Yourself," introduced in 1988, echoed the company's long-standing belief that consumers should judge cola on its merits rather than on marketing claims. Instead of promoting a generation, a lifestyle, or a celebrity endorsement, RC appealed directly to individual choice. The slogan built on the brand's long history of taste-test campaigns and reinforced its role as an independent alternative to the industry's two dominant players. Decades after introducing "Best by Taste Test," RC was still asking consumers to make up their own minds.

RC's next advertising campaigns included:

1989 - "New Look, Same Great Taste"
1990 - "Take the RC Challenge"
1994 - "Shake Things Up"
1998 - "Be Free, Drink RC"

Answer: RC Cola

Entering the twenty-first century, RC Cola occupied a very different position from Coca‑Cola and Pepsi. It no longer competed on equal footing for market share, but it retained a loyal following in many regions and continued to emphasize its distinct identity.

The slogan "Not a Soft Drink. Just a Damn Good Cola" captured that attitude. RC embraced its place in the market with a straightforward message about the cola itself. The slogan was direct, unapologetic, and focused entirely on taste.

After decades of promoting freshness, taste tests, and consumer choice, RC was making its simplest claim yet: it didn't need elaborate marketing promises - just a good cola and people who appreciated it.

Answer: Jolt Cola

Jolt Cola arrived in 1985 at a time when most major soft drink companies were promoting taste, refreshment, or low-calorie alternatives. Created by C.J. Rapp in Rochester, New York, Jolt took a very different approach. Its slogan, "All the Sugar and Twice the Caffeine!" put the product's defining feature front and center. Rather than competing with Coca‑Cola or Pepsi on image or tradition, Jolt marketed itself as a highly caffeinated drink for people facing long nights of work, study, or other late-night pursuits.

The brand developed a loyal following among students, programmers, and other heavy caffeine users, and in doing so carved out a niche that anticipated the rise of modern energy drinks. For many consumers, Jolt wasn't just another cola - it was the drink you bought when staying awake was more important than anything else.

Answer: Jolt Cola

In just a few years, Jolt had become well known for its high-caffeine image, and the slogan "America's Most Powerful Cola" reflected a shift from explaining the product to promoting the brand itself. Rather than focusing on what was inside the can, the slogan emphasized Jolt's position among cola brands.

It presented the brand as a challenger to the established cola giants, with "power" becoming central to its image. Jolt wasn't trying to be another mainstream cola - it was making the case that it belonged in a category of its own.

Answer: Jolt Cola

By the late 2000s, Jolt was trying to reinvent itself for a new generation of consumers. The company introduced new flavours, redesigned packaging, and shifted away from the image of a quirky high-caffeine cola. The slogan "Maximum Caffeine, More Power" reflected that effort, tying the brand more closely to the fast-growing energy drink sector. Jolt's distinctive battery-shaped containers and updated product lineup showed that the company was trying to modernize its image.

The market Jolt had helped anticipate was now crowded with energy drinks from much larger competitors.

Despite these efforts, the company entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2009, bringing an end to Jolt's original era.

Answer: Jolt Cola

Following its bankruptcy and several years off store shelves, Jolt Cola returned in 2017 with a very different message. Rather than emphasizing caffeine levels, power, or performance, the slogan "Taste the Legend" leaned into the brand's history and reputation.

The relaunch presented Jolt as a product people remembered from an earlier era, appealing both to former fans and to younger consumers curious about a beverage that had achieved cult status. Advertisements and packaging highlighted the brand's legacy, turning its long absence into part of the story. By 2017, Jolt's history had become one of its strongest selling points.