Dr Pepper Just Released a Limited Edition Soda That’s Supposed to Taste Like Barrel-Aged Bourbon

Updated: Feb. 06, 2023

Courtesy Dr. Pepper

Dr Pepper bourbon soda? This, we've got to try.

Dr Pepper bourbon soda? Well, kind of. The beverage brand is now offering a limited-edition drink called Dr Pepper Bourbon Flavored Fansville Reserve. And even though bourbon is the inspiration for the drink… it’s not alcoholic.

Dr Pepper has always bubbled away separately from Coke and Pepsi, with its sharper flavor, that goofy name (with no period after the Dr), and more creative ad campaigns. I grew up in the 1970s, and there was a brief period of time when every kid on the playground was singing the “I’m a Pepper!” jingle.

You can make pot roast with Dr Pepper, and some people actually drink hot Dr Pepper. There was a dark berry Dr Pepper variety introduced earlier this year, too, along with a Strawberries and Cream Dr. Pepper. So if any beverage was going to go all out and create a bourbon beverage, it makes sense that it’s the good doctor.

Dr Pepper Bourbon Soda, But No Alcohol?

That’s right. The drink does come in a very cool-looking silver can with a vintage-looking label that resembles a bourbon bottle, but it’s 100 percent non-alcoholic. If you need a refresher, this is the difference between bourbon and whiskey.

It’ll be interesting to see how Dr Pepper bourbon soda manages to evoke the flavor notes of bourbon without any alcohol. Lack of alcohol aside, it certainly sounds like it’s meant for grown-ups. I wonder if it’ll become an ingredient in cocktails, or even spiked ice cream floats?

What Does the Dr Pepper Bourbon Soda Taste Like?

I’ll report back on the taste once I get a sample, but for now, here’s what the company says it tastes like: “Dr Pepper Bourbon Flavored Fansville Reserve is a non-alcoholic beverage inspired by the tailgate and crafted for fans with one-of-a-kind flavor that evokes sweet, savory, and woody notes with subtle hints of cherry, vanilla, chocolate and caramel depending on the sipper that are sure to delight the palate.”

That’s…a lot of flavor notes for one soda can. Sounds a bit more like an ice cream sundae than bourbon, but hey, bring it on.

When Can I Get It?

You can get a can right now—but do you feel lucky? To get a can to try at home, you have to win one. Interested Peppers should log in or enroll in the drink’s Pepper Perks program, redeem points, and play a scratch-and-win game to try and win a can of the Dr Pepper bourbon soda.

The drink is a limited-time offering, and only available while supplies last, even though the promotion will be running till November 17. So if it’s your cup of soda, give the game a try now!

Try These Bourbon-Spiked Recipes

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Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Monkey Bread Time to give rum cake a little competition! If this boozy take on monkey bread is too strong for your taste, cut back on the bourbon or use milk as a non-alcoholic substitute. —James Schend, Taste of Home Food Editor Get Recipe

Brownie Bourbon Bites Exps Hccbz18 34145 B04 23 6b 2

Brownie Bourbon BitesChocolate and chopped pecans flavor these simple, spirited treats. Make a double batch so you can give some as gifts and savor the rest!—Paula Kirchenbauer, Newton, New Jersey