Dr Pepper Just Released a Limited Edition Soda That’s Supposed to Be Hot, Hot, Hot
Updated: Nov. 08, 2023
Dr Pepper Hot Take is hot stuff—seriously.
I love spicy margaritas. I always pick the hot chicken sandwich over the regular crispy chicken. And one of my favorite holiday snacks involves hot pepper jelly. So bring on the heat, is what I’m saying!
Dr Pepper already dares to be different, with its almost-spicy flavor that sets it apart from Coke and Pepsi. It’s the perfect beverage brand to heat things up by adding a spicy-pepper taste. No, it’s not the retro hot Dr Pepper recipe I reviewed.
This is Dr Pepper Hot Take, a version of the soda fired up with hot peppers.
What is the new Dr Pepper flavor?
The new flavor is called Dr Pepper Hot Take, but don’t look for a full description of what’s in it.
Even Dr Pepper’s classic flavor is a bit of a mystery. The makers of this soda have always bragged that it has “23 flavors,” but they’re never said what exactly they are. (I get it—you don’t want Coke or Pepsi to steal your secret recipe.)
As I mused when reviewing Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream, the internet thinks they are amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, carrot, clove, cherry, caramel, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato and vanilla.
That’s a lot of flavors. I kind of feel like the internet just skimmed down a list of food words and picked 23 at random. Carrot? Tomato? Maybe the Dr Pepper ingredient list accidentally crashed into the V8 vegetable juice recipe or something.
The makers of Dr Pepper are just as secretive about Dr Pepper Hot Take. They proclaim it to be “a fiery turn on the original 23 flavors, harnessing the bold flavors of spicy peppers.”
Which peppers? Jalapeno? Habanero? Ghost pepper? A mix? The Doctor is not telling. Just peppers!
How does the new Dr Pepper flavor taste?
Dr Pepper sent me one can of Dr Pepper Hot Take along with four shot glasses. That should’ve been my first clue that this isn’t a gulping drink, but a sipping drink. Don’t pour a regular-size drinking glass full of the stuff. It must be consumed in small portions.
My first sip reminded me of a jalapeno margarita, one of my favorite spicy drinks. Dr Pepper is the perfect background for it – it’s already a bit spicy, a bit sweet and has a fascinating melange of flavors. Add in the peppery bite, and it’s a hot delight for those of us who love spice.
Warning: I accidentally took too large a sip at one point and started coughing like I was Doc Holliday in Tombstone, fighting off tuberculosis. Learn from my mistake and be careful not to drink too much Dr Pepper Hot Take at once.
But carefully consumed, Dr Pepper Hot Take is a spectacular sizzling sip. I’d buy a six-pack or even a two-liter bottle if I could. My husband was visibly disappointed I didn’t have a second can for him to take off to his gaming night to share with his buddies.
How can I get it?
I’m almost sad to tell you that Dr Pepper Hot Take is so good, because I can’t guarantee you will nab some. As of November 8, it’s available only to members of Dr Pepper’s fan program, Pepper Perks.
You can either play an online scratch-and-win game to try and win some, or redeem 2300 points from the program. And it’s a limited-time offering that’s only available while supplies last, so I suspect it’s going to run out quickly.
And come on, Doc—make this flavor more readily available. It’s a hot shot for sure!
Originally Published: November 08, 2023
