The Hot Dr Pepper: A Holiday Beverage Revival
A Blast from the Past
The holidays always bring a bevy of beverages for seasonal sipping. In recent years, we’ve tried the Gingerbread Martini, the Rudolph, and the Snowglobe. This year, apparently, we’re making hot Dr Pepper.
The Recipe
Yes, it’s the same old soda standby you know and love, but with a literal twist! To make this trending tipple, you just heat Dr Pepper, add a slice of lemon and serve. You can warm it up in a mug once the carbonation dies down, or just Crock-Pot a whole 2-liter for a crowd.
A Nostalgic Touch
The Dr Pepper Museum serves it every winter, but it’s not the only one: Hudson Valley’s massive and legendary antiques store Newbergh Vintage Emporium is using it to add that nostalgic holiday touch, because as popular as it is at the moment, it’s actually nothing new.
A Staple of the Past
Dr Pepper first promoted the recipe in the 1960s to bump lagging sales in winter, as in this classic Dick Clark TV spot:
Some versions even suggested spiking it with rum and calling it a "Boomer."
A Texas Tradition
Although not many people have remembered it until now, it was something of a staple at gameday concession stands and teens’ parties in the ’60s and ’70s (sans rum), at least in some parts of the country.
The Secret Recipe
According to brand lore, a young pharmacist at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store was aiming to make a beverage that tasted the way the air around the flavored syrups counter smelled — and Dr Pepper was born.
A Taste Test
Now that I feel reassured that there’s no prune juice in it, I’m ready for a taste test! Since I am a late-20th-century native Texan, I actually had this a few times growing up and remember it fondly. Still, sometimes the fog of yesteryear clouds the truth and I feel a rising dread. Is this beverage up-and-coming or a has-been?
Conclusion
Hot Dr Pepper may look like black coffee but it smells like hot Dr Pepper. Warming happily brings the purported spice flavors to the forefront but I found the first sip too sweet. With a few tweaks, it’s solidly in drinkable territory, at least for old times’ sake.
FAQs
Q: What’s the secret to making hot Dr Pepper?
A: Simply heat Dr Pepper, add a slice of lemon and serve.
Q: Is hot Dr Pepper a new trend?
A: No, it’s actually a nostalgic holiday beverage that’s been around since the 1960s.
Q: Can I add rum to hot Dr Pepper?
A: Yes, some versions suggest spiking it with rum and calling it a "Boomer."
Q: Is hot Dr Pepper good with eggnog?
A: Yes, try mixing 20% Dr Pepper with 80% eggnog for a unique holiday drink.
Q: Can I use plant-based milk alternatives?
A: Yes, Dr Pepper has recipes online that include oat milk as an ingredient.
