With March Madness coming up, many sports fans are debating what soda is the best to have at their watch parties. This tournament hopes to decide what soda is truly the best. The bracket is formatted similarly to March Madness, with 68 teams and a single elimination set up.
The first matchup is #64 A&W Root Beer Zero Sugar versus #65 Brisk Iced Tea. The root beer has a striking resemblance to the full sugar version in contrast to Brisk’s flat, fake tasting tea. Even though Brisk has a wide variety of flavors, from raspberry to fruit punch, their flagship lemon flavor is just sub-par. This gives the zero sugar root beer the first win of Soda March Madness.
The second match of the tournament is #61 Sprite Cranberry versus #68 Vanilla Coke. Sprite Cranberry takes an easy win, knocking out the mediocre Coke variant. Because the Sprite contender has such a lock on the holiday market, it’s difficult for Vanilla Coke to compete.
The third match is a competition of second-tier energy drinks, #63 Mtn Dew Kickstart and #66 Reign Energy. Reign takes the win in this one, with a larger variety of flavors, at 17 total, compared to Kickstart’s six flavors.
The final match of the First Four is #62 Spiced Coke and #67 Pepsi Mango. Spiced Coke takes an easy win in this one, with their cinnamon and raspberry flavor trouncing the artificial tasting Pepsi Mango.
To start the first round, the soda king, #1 Coca Cola takes on #64 A&W Root Beer Zero Sugar, and it is not even close. The soda giant kills the zero sugar root beer on all levels, from taste to the can design.
Next up is #32 Sparkling Ice and #33 Mtn Dew Code Red. Code Red has a very strong flavor, matching its intense color. Sparkling Ice is a cafeteria favorite, offering low sugar while maintaining a decent flavor. However, Code Red has an overall better aura around it, giving it the first round win.
The next game is 7up and Diet Pepsi, who are ranked #16 and #49 respectively. 7up was clearly the winner in this case. Not only is it a classic, it is a soda for kids with a great lemon-lime flavor, unlike Diet Pepsi where you can taste the chemical flavor of the artificial sweeteners and metallic hints. Due to this, 7up gets the win.
Another first round matchup is #17 Canada Dry Ginger Ale versus #48 Diet Coke. This game will lead to the biggest upset yet, with Diet Coke overpowering the sick day treat. Diet Coke is the go to for many people wanting to cut back on their sugar intake, while Canada Dry is only enjoyed when you’re sick, giving it the loss.
Next up, in the eighth battle we have #8 Fanta and #57 Sunkist Zero Sugar. It is clear to everyone that Fanta wins, because many claim that it is the best orange soda. This isn’t even touched by the watered-down Sunkist Zero Sugar
The ninth game is the 25-40 matchup, with Wild Cherry Pepsi at #25 and Mello Yello at #40. Wild Cherry Pepsi gets the win over Mello Yello due to Mello Yello’s lack of true flavor and fanbase. For example, have you ever heard someone say that Mello Yello is their favorite soda? Exactly.
In this matchup it is #9 Diet Dr. Pepper versus #56 Grape Sunkist. Clearly Diet Dr. Pepper wins because it tastes most similar to its non-diet counterpart. Grape Sunkist tastes like medicine, which is something no one wants in a drink; therefore, Diet Dr. P wins.
The next one is interesting, with #24 Mr. Pibb and #41 Shirley Temple. Shirley Temple had to fight for its right to be in the tournament due to the fact that it is just a mix of grenadine and Sprite, while Mr. Pibb got in easily. Shirley Temple just tastes better than Mr. Pibb. Mr. Pibb is off brand Dr. Pepper, and therefore loses this match.
Following up, the next game is #4 Mtn Dew, which is a classic and has a lot of flavor. Meanwhile, #61 Sprite Cranberry is a seasonal drink. You can’t get Sprite Cranberry all year round, so this makes Mtn Dew get the win.
The next game is #29 San Pellegrino squaring off with #36 Dr. Pepper Cherry. Dr. Pepper Cherry easily defeats San Pellegrino, as it has more flavor than the sparkling water. San Pellegrino isn’t even the best sparkling water, so how would it even be in consideration for best soda?
Next in the round is A&W Root Beer, #13, and Seagram’s Ginger Ale, #52, with A&W winning. A&W Root Beer reminds everyone of a root beer float, which is a classic. On the other hand, Seagram’s Ginger Ale is another soda that you would only drink when you’re sick.
This next one is a battle of the “sun” sodas, #20 Sunkist and #45 Sundrop. Sundrop is just another lemon-lime soda, while Sunkist is just another orange soda. This game comes down to what is better, lemon-lime or orange. The answer is orange, giving Sunkist the win.
Almost to the halfway point is #5 Red Bull versus #60 Caffeine Free Coke, Red Bull has a wide variety of flavors, having a flavor for every fruity combination. There’s no real point of Caffeine Free Coke because most people want energy, and it tastes like dirty water, which is why Red Bull won.
Halfway through the first round, we see La Croix and Mountain Lightning, being #28 and #37 respectively. La Croix has a variety of different flavors, even if they are not very strong, while Mountain Lightning is the Walmart brand Mtn Dew, and it tastes like it. This soda has a terrible flavor, giving La Croix the first sparkling water victory.
The next matchup is between #12 Mug Root Beer and #13 Ghost. Ghost is not the most popular energy drink and has a very artificial taste. Mug Root Beer is the best mass-produced root beer, and that is why Mug Root Beer wins.
In a big fruit-soda matchup, there is #21 Orange Crush versus #44 Mtn Dew Major Melon. Major Melon was a quarantine favorite that started the trend for more interesting Mtn Dew flavors in recent years. But this experimental Dew can’t hold a candle to the flagship Crush flavor, Orange Crush. Orange Crush can’t be beaten by a fringe flavor like Major Melon and will be going to the round of 32.
Our next matchup is #2 Pepsi and #66 Reign energy. Pepsi is one the most popular brands of all time, while Rein is not the most popular drink. Pepsi gets an easy first round win.
Dr. Pepper Cream Soda, a fringe flavor of Dr. Pepper, is 31 in this matchup, goes up against 34 Dr. Thunder, a direct competitor from Walmart. Dr. Pepper Cream Soda will win due to the sheer brand recognition of Dr. Pepper.
Next, #15 Mtn Dew Baja Blast and #50 Diet Mtn Dew. Baja Blast is a tropical fruity drink that’s no longer exclusive to Taco Bell, because of their 20th anniversary celebration. Meanwhile Diet Mtn Dew is one you can tell is a diet soda. So, easily, Baja Blast wins.
This lemon-lime flavored match sees #18 Sprite face off against #47 Squirt. Sprite and Squirt have very similar flavor profiles, but Sprite is more recognizable due to its brand recognition. Sprite takes the win.
The next one is #7 Pepsi Zero Sugar versus #58 7up Zero Sugar. Pepsi Zero Sugar tastes just like the original drink while 7up Zero Sugar tastes off. Due to this, Pepsi Zero Sugar takes the win.
#26 Cheerwine is a North Carolina favorite, while #39 Grape Fanta is a classic grape soda. Grape Fanta falls just like all other grape sodas do, because of its medicine-like taste. This gives the local favorite the win.
Next is #10 Mtn Dew Zero Sugar against #55 Dr. Pepper Strawberries and Cream. Dr. Pepper Strawberries and Cream wins this one because it tastes like Strawberries and cream without a fake after taste.
The next match has #23 A&W Cream Soda which is the best cream soda in this tournament. It is not even close to the flavorless lemon-lime sparkling water that is #42 Sprite Zero Sugar. A&W Cream Soda wins.
Next up is #3 Dr. Pepper and #62 Spiced Coke, Dr. Pepper won because of its sweet taste and variety of flavors under the name. Having a sip of Dr. Pepper is like tasting a bit of heaven because it doesn’t dehydrate you like other popular brands do. Spiced Coke’s raspberry cinnamon flavor puts up a strong fight, but still can’t defeat the soda powerhouse that is Dr. Pepper.
Next is #30 Cherry Coke against #35 Grape Crush. No one likes the taste of medicine which is exactly what Grape Crush tastes like. Cherry Coke won because it tastes great and is very popular in 2024.
Up next is #51 Jarritos, which has many different fruity flavors for everyone to enjoy and #14 Barq’s Root Beer, which tastes more sharp and fancy which is not what most people are looking for in a soda. This is why Jarritos wins.
In the next match, #17 Starry lost against #46 Cherry Vanilla Coke. Starry is an off brand Sprite that is not very good compared to Cherry Vanilla Coke. Even though Cherry Vanilla Coke is a fringe flavor, it still beats Starry
#6 Coke Zero Sugar, won its competition against #59 Caffeine Free Pepsi because Coke Zero Sugar tastes like the original drink while Caffeine Free Pepsi tastes a bit off. That was why Coke Zero Sugar won this one.
#38 Cherry 7up offers a unique taste and a great balanced cherry flavor that is sweet and tangy and can leave you feeling refreshed by the crisp taste. #27 Fanta Zero, however, tastes watered down regular Fanta, which is not what anyone is looking for.
The second to last match of the first round is #11 Monster and #54 C4. This is a matchup of two big energy drinks. Monster easily wins due to the brand recognition around it and its number of total flavors when compared to C4.
The last match of the first round sees #22 Schweppes Ginger Ale and #43 RC Cola squaring off. Schweppes Ginger Ale wins because it has the classic ginger ale flavor that everyone is looking for while RC Cola clearly tastes like a knock off Coke. It is a shock that RC Cola was ranked this high to begin with, as it is no longer in production.
With the Schweppes win, it is the end of the first round and the first part of Soda March Madness. The next part will come out the following week and will cover the Round of 32 and the Sweet 16. So come back next time for part two of Soda March Madness and see if your favorite soda will advance.
