Nuka - Cola Nuka - Cola , produced by the Nuka - Cola Corporation , was the most popular soft drink in the world before the Great War . After the War , many bottles of this pre - War favorite still survived , and Nuka - Cola remains one of the most popular soft drinks of the post - apocalyptic world . Their bottle caps are also famously used as currency , along with Sunset Sarsaparilla and Vim . Background . < section begin = " background " / > Nuka - Cola was invented in 2044 by John - Caleb Bradberton . Its unique taste gained widespread popularity , quickly becoming the most popular soft drink in the United States with an extremely dedicated following . The widely known dazzling blue bottle color was adopted as standard in 2052 , after market research programs indicated that the blue color was the favorite in 86 people out of 100 polled . The ingredients of Nuka - Cola include : carbonated water , caramel color , aspartame , phosphoric acid , potassium benzoate ( to protect taste ) , natural flavors , citric acid , and caffeine . What gives it a unique flavor is the essence of seventeen different fruits mixed in just the right proportion to give the beverage its trademark taste . Some versions of the drink also include vita - minerals and health tonics . During the Great Passion Fruit Famine of 2044 , people actually noticed the taste difference when the recipe was changed . By 2067 , vending machines with ice cold Nuka - Cola could be found on virtually every street in America , and even an amusement park in the Commonwealth . < section end = " background " / > Variants . Nuka - Cola . < section begin = " nuka " / > Nuka - Cola was the most popular flavored soft drink in the United States before the Great War . After the War , Nuka - Cola remains one of the most popular soft drinks of the post - nuclear world , as much of it was preserved in a fairly pristine state , although it tends to be warm , irradiated , and flat . In Fallout 4 , Nuka - Cola bottles take on a newer look . < section end = " nuka " / > Fallout 3 & 4 variants . Nuka - Cola ( Ice Cold variants ) . Ice cold Nuka - Cola is a rare wasteland commodity that is the result of placing a bottle of Nuka - Cola in a functioning refrigeration unit . It may be chilled , but it is still irradiated and flat . Nuka - Cola Quantum . < section begin = " quantum " / > In 2077 , a new version called Nuka - Cola Quantum was introduced . According to the advertisements , it had twice the calories , twice the carbohydrates , twice the caffeine and twice the taste . To make it stand out more on the shelves and to give it an extra kick , the Quantum included a mild radioactive strontium isotope ( and an eighteenth fruit flavor - pomegranate ) . The effect was a drink that not only boosted your energy , but also glowed with a bright blue light . While no ill effects were recorded by the Food and Drug Administration , the isotope also caused the drinker ' s urine to glow for almost a week . Reports that can be obtained in the Nuka - Cola plant show that product development had not been without failures and casualties . All of the testers of the first batch died soon after consumption . The company found a suitable isotope in . The product was made in small experimental groups , which were then sent out around Washington , D . C . for feedback . Unfortunately , while the product was being sent out for response , some of the packages were caught out in the Great War . Nuka - Cola Quantum was released to the public the same day the bombs dropped : October 23 , 2077 . Because of this , Nuka - Cola Quantum is incredibly rare in the wasteland , with many bottles found in trucks that were shipping the product , ravaged by the bombs . It is more common in the Commonwealth than in the Capital Wasteland , however . The Quantum substance had originally been created as a secret weapon under the research of the Doctor Rex Meacham , sponsored by the army . He managed to finish the project before his death , soon after the bombs dropped . His research can be used to create Quantum ammunition for the Thirst Zapper , which make blue radioactive explosions that can disintegrate the target as well as Nuka Quantum grenade s . < section end = " quantum " / > Nuka - Cola Quantum is also used to speed up processes in " Fallout Shelter " , such as Wasteland return speed and crafting time . Nuka - Cola Clear . < section begin = " clear " / > The company began to develop a product called Nuka - Cola Clear , with " only minimal loss of life . " The formula and some entries on a research terminal can be found in the Nuka - Cola plant , but it never made it into production . In " Nuka - World " there is a holodisk about Nuka - Cola Clear on Bradberton ' s desk in his office . There is also a terminal entry indicating that Clear is modified from an existing product called Sharon ' s Downhome Country Lemon . The drink was never released due to the cost , but was planned to at least two fiscal years later . < section end = " clear " / > Nuka - Cola Quartz . < section begin = " quartz " / > Nuka - Cola Quartz is a flavor of Nuka - Cola . In a similar sort of situation to Nuka - Cola Quantum . It is a clear drink with a white tint and glow . This version of the soft drink also gives the drinker low - light vision , much like the effects given after taking Cateye . The Nuka - Cola Corporation had a trademark battle with Vim ! Pop Incorporated over the " Quartz " trademark , since Vim was also selling a drink known as Vim Quartz . Nuka - Cola won the battle . < section end = " quartz " / > Nuka - Cola Victory . < section begin = " victory " / > Nuka - Cola Victory is another flavor of Nuka - Cola . It is colored orange , giving it a distinct look , much like Nuka - Cola Quantum . < section end = " victory " / > Nuka - Cherry . < section begin = " FO4Cherry " / > Nuka - Cherry is a cherry - flavored variant of Nuka - Cola with red coloring that was distributed in the vicinity of Boston . < section end = " FO4Cherry " / > Nuka - Cola Orange . < section begin = " FO4Orange " / > An orange - flavored version of Nuka - Cola , easily distinguished by its orange bottle and the orange slice on its label . Strangely , some element in its make - up causes it to temporarily boost a drinker ' s resistance to radiation . The only known supplies of this brand of the drink that remain in the wasteland are those contained within the boundaries of the Nuka - World theme - park in the Boston Commonwealth . < section end = " FO4Orange " / > Nuka - Cola Dark . < section begin = " FO4Dark " / > Distinguished by its namesake deep black color , Nuka - Cola Dark is an alcoholic variation of the popular soft - drink boasting 35 % alcohol by volume . The only known supplies of this intoxicating sweet drink that remain in the wasteland are those contained within the boundaries of the Nuka - World theme - park in the Boston Commonwealth . < section end = " FO4Dark " / > Nuka - Cola Wild . < section begin = " FO4Wild " / > Nuka - Cola Wild is a root - beer - flavored drink that was meant to compete with Sunset Sarsaparilla . It comes in a red bottle and is marked with a red - orange label bearing the legend " Nuka - Wild " . The only known supplies of this brand of the drink that remain in the wasteland are those contained within the boundaries of the Nuka - World theme - park in the Boston Commonwealth . < section end = " FO4Wild " / > Nuka - Grape . < section begin = " FO4Grape " / > Easily distinguished by its purple - on - purple color scheme and the grape - bunch featured on its label and bottlecap . As its name suggests , Nuka - Grape is a grape - flavored variant of Nuka - Cola . The only known supplies of this brand of the drink that remain in the wasteland are those contained within the boundaries of the Nuka - World theme - park in the Boston Commonwealth . < section end = " FO4Grape " / > Fallout Tactics variants . Cherry Nuka - Cola . < section begin = " cherry " / > Cherry Nuka - Cola is a variation of regular Nuka - Cola . After it was introduced , it turned out that nobody liked the taste . This resulted in a marketing disaster for the company , which quickly attempted to save the brand by introducing the Classic Nuka - Cola , tasting exactly like the original , but in a new bottle . The story of its introduction , rejection , and replacement by Classic Nuka - Cola mimics that of New Coke . < section end = " cherry " / > Classic Nuka - Cola . < section begin = " classic " / > Classic Nuka - Cola tastes exactly like the original Nuka - Cola , but comes in a new bottle . It was an attempt at saving the brand after the marketing disaster that was Cherry Nuka - Cola . < section end = " classic " / > Yellow Nuka - Cola . < section begin = " yellow " / > Yellow Nuka - Cola is a " variation " of regular Nuka - Cola , both yellow in color and with an " interesting " smell . In Chicago , during the Brotherhood of Steel ' s reign , there were reports of this strange yellow Nuka - Cola . However , it was quickly identified as a substance designed by a " mad naked man " who " made water . " Considering this , and the fact that it ' s poisonous to anyone naive enough to actually drink it , it is apparent that the so - called cola is in fact a generous helping of urine . < section end = " yellow " / > Fusion Cola . < section begin = " fusion " / > Phil , the Nuka - Cola dude , had the thankless job of riding around the Wasteland with his bike and refilling all of the Nuka - Cola machines that littered it . It was a tradition passed down ( rather stupidly ) from generation to generation . Phil was not impressed and doesn ' t like Nuka - Cola that much . It is rumored that he had something called Fusion Nuka - Cola , a unique , unknown taste which was created by fusing together some Nuka - Cola dregs into a concentrated essence . < section end = " fusion " / > Crafted at Nuka - mixer station . < section begin = " FO4NukaMixes " / > Any of these drinks can be improved by chilling them in Buddy , resulting in an ice cold variant . While some are statistically identical to their warm counterparts , others provide an improvement to the drinks effect on the drinker ' s metabolism , resulting in increased health and action point bonuses . Officially registered recipes . Such was the popularity of Nuka - Cola and its influence over Pre - War American culture , that not only did the company produce its own soft drink - themed amusement park , but one of the draws was the opportunity to create new Nuka - Cola recipes by mixing together various existing Nuka - Cola products at a Nuka - mixer station . The most successful mixes were recorded and written down , obviously intended to later be " officially " created by the company and distributed . Before the bombs dropped , some fifteen distinct recipes had been derived from park - goer experimentation : Nuka - World raider recipes . Other recipes have been developed by the raiders dwelling in the park since the bombs dropped . These , however , an aspiring brewer must figure out for themselves . Some named mixtures include : < section end = " FO4NukaMixes " / >