by Jared Harding Wilson
What is your favorite drink?
When the WordPress daily prompt asked for my favorite drink, I knew my answer might raise some eyebrows. It’s not a rare vintage wine or a complex craft brew, (I’ve actually never drank alcohol in my life, nor coffee). My absolute, #1, go-to drink is Dihydrogen Monoxide.
Okay, fine—it’s water. 💧
Boring, I know! But hear me out: the tap water here in Utah, is phenomenal. It’s crisp, it’s cold, and it’s genuinely world-class. Whether I’m hydrating after a hike or just grabbing a glass in the kitchen, nothing beats it. To give you an idea of my relationship with H2O, here is a photo of me getting absolutely smashed by a giant ocean wave—it’s safe to say I’m a fan of being surrounded by the stuff!
The Soda Hall of Fame
While water is my daily driver, I definitely have a “Soda Hall of Fame.” If we’re talking ginger ale, Canada Dry is the undisputed king. I know Seagram’s has its fans and Vernors is a classic, but the crisp bite of Canada Dry just hits differently for me. 🇨🇦
My silver medalist (which used to be my all-time favorite) is Dr Pepper. These days, I’ve made the switch to Dr Pepper Zero, but the flavor carries a lot of nostalgia.
I grew up in North Carolina, where my mom—a powerhouse single mother raising four kids on her own—once managed to scrape together enough money to fly us all to Arizona to visit my grandparents and cousins. It was a huge deal! When we finally arrived, I discovered that the Dr Pepper love was genetic. My dad’s side of the family had cases of it stacked up. It felt like a rite of passage!
The Utah “Dirty Soda” Culture
If you live in Utah, you know that “grabbing a drink” doesn’t mean what it means in other states. We have a massive obsession with mixed sodas. You can’t go two blocks without seeing a:
• Sip’n
• Fiiz
• Swig
My wife and I are regulars at Sodalicious since it’s the closest to our house. Her top picks are the Skinny Southern Gentleman “extra dirty” (Dr Pepper, peach, vanilla, and half & half) or the Allison Show, which is a refreshing mix of Diet Coke, fresh lime, and cranberry. 🍋🟩
As for me? I usually opt for a sparkling water creation called Liquid Life. It’s packed with frozen mango, 🥭 frozen strawberries, 🍓 and sugar-free vanilla coconut 🥥 syrups. However, if I’m feeling whimsical, I’ll grab a Butter Brew. It’s root beer with double vanilla and butterscotch—it tastes exactly like something Harry, Ron, and Hermione would be sipping on at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. 📚⚡
Whether it’s a fancy mixed soda or just a glass of Provo’s finest tap water, stay hydrated, my friends!
What’s your “guilty pleasure” drink? Let me know in the comments!
Pics by Jared Harding Wilson. All rights reserved.
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An interesting selection of drinks! My favorite in Ginger Beer.
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Jane!!! Ok, 👍 Lol, I kind of wrote this post fairly quickly, but I may actually like Ginger Beer more than Canada 🇨🇦 Dry Ginger Ale! 🍺 Love it! 😊 Thanks for sharing! 🙏
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I can’t live without water, nor can any of us, but I get a dry mouth and have a bottle of water with me all the time and glasses of water in every room… my friend said her mother never drank water, even if she took tablets she washed them down with a cup of tea…. Which brings me to confess I also can’t live without a cup of tea, part of being English, though I never drank it till I was fifteen. However I would no doubt enjoy the many sodas you have on offer.
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Quite interesting! Thanks for the share! Same with water, I always have my hydro flask nearby. I also love my many herbal teas—chamomile, peppermint, ginger peach, and the like. 👍 And yes, if ever you’re in Utah, you should give the many dirty drinks a go!
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Thanks! 🙏
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I would have to say, hands down, my favorite beverage is coffee! Especially a latte 🙂 Never had dirty soda but it sounds interesting, though I’m not really much for pop. That pic of you in the ocean is amazing, btw 🙂
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Thanks for the comments! 🙏 Dirty sodas are surprisingly really popular here. And it’s probably a good thing you don’t drink much pop. 😉👍
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I’ve never heard of these mixed sodas – they sound pretty good. I also thought Mormons could not consume caffeine, but I guess if you can drink Dr. Pepper, it must be ok!
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Haha, you’re right, caffeinated drinks was frowned upon, never against the rules, but nowadays it’s free game. They are pretty good! 👍 And water is still my mainstay go to beverage of choice.
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I wish I could get in the habit of drinking more water, but I just can’t seem to. At least I’ve started drinking sparkling water.
thanks for letting me know about caffeine!
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