Dr Pepper Diet Soda Mini Cooler Cup

The Oldest Major Soda in America

Dr Pepper was born in Waco, Texas, in 1885 at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store. A young pharmacist named Charles Alderton liked how the shop smelled, a mix of fruit syrups, and he set out to bottle that smell as a drink. Customers started asking for “a Waco.” Store owner Wade Morrison gave it the name Dr Pepper.

That date, 1885, is printed under the logo on this cup. It makes Dr Pepper a year older than Coca-Cola, and the oldest major soft drink still sold in the United States.

The white cup with the maroon Dr Pepper logo, Diet badge and maroon lid and handle.

Design Details

Body: white, with the maroon Dr Pepper logo, “Est. 1885” and a maroon “Diet” oval on the front.

Lower band: raised white ribbing, the look of a real sideline cooler.

Lid and handle: textured maroon, with an opening for the straw.

Straw: clear, with a small bottle-shaped topper in our photos.

Charm: a maroon Dr Pepper tag with a pink bow on a bead chain.

Spigot: a small white spigot detail at the base.

The cup takes the shape of a classic round water cooler and shrinks it to fit in one hand.

A Drink Built on 23 Flavors

Dr Pepper’s recipe is still a secret. The company says it blends 23 flavors, and fans have argued for generations about which ones: cherry, vanilla, licorice, almond, prune? Nobody outside the company knows for sure, and that mystery is part of the brand.

The Diet version launched in 1962, first called “Dietetic Dr Pepper.” Since then it has built one of the most devoted followings in the soda aisle. Diet Dr Pepper fans tend to stay loyal, and that is who this cup is for.

The handle up and the bottle-shaped straw topper, with the pink-bow logo charm hanging from the side.

A Texas Winter Tradition

In the 1960s Dr Pepper ran a winter campaign for “Hot Dr Pepper”: heat the soda, pour it over a thin slice of lemon and serve it warm. It became a holiday tradition in parts of Texas and the South that some families still keep.

An old slogan also asked people to drink Dr Pepper at “10, 2 and 4,” three times a day for a lift between meals. If you need a reason to fill this cup three times a day, there it is.

A Museum for a Soda

Waco still honors its drink. The Dr Pepper Museum opened in 1991 inside the 1906 Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company building, where Dr Pepper was once bottled. Visitors see old bottling equipment, decades of advertising and a working soda fountain. Few soft drinks have a museum in their hometown; Dr Pepper’s fans make the trip.

Good Gift For

1. The friend who has a fridge full of Diet Dr Pepper.
2. A coworker who brings one to every meeting.
3. A soda-memorabilia collector building a shelf of classic logos.
4. Anyone who grew up in Texas and knows what “Waco” means.

Front view with the “Est. 1885” line and the Diet badge under the logo.

Care

Hand wash the cup, lid and straw in warm, soapy water and dry them fully before putting the pieces back together. Remove the charm before washing.

More Soda Gifts

Soda fans can also count down with the Diet Coke Christmas 2026 Advent Calendar, or browse more Mugs & Tumblers.

FAQ

Is it shaped like a real cooler?

Yes: the round body, the ribbed lower band, the arched handle and the spigot detail all come from the classic sideline water cooler.

Is the straw included?

Yes, with a topper as shown in the photos.