Dr. Pepper is one of the most popular soft drinks or sodas in the US today. People use Dr. Pepper in a variety of cocktails and mocktails or they simply drink it without any additions.
So, if you absolutely love Dr. Pepper and want to drink it with an alcoholic twist, which are the best alcoholic drinks to dump into Dr. Pepper? Well, you can always go for rum, vodka, whisky, gin, brandy, tequila, and even absinthe.
In this guide, I will help you find out the ideal combination of alcohol and Dr. Pepper for you. I will also talk about some of the best cocktail recipes with Dr. Pepper that you can try out.
So, read on to know more!
What Is Dr. Pepper?
First of all, let’s talk about what Dr. Pepper is and what it is made up of.
Dr. Pepper is a type of carbonated, soft drink that was manufactured back in the 1880s, by a famous pharmacist in the US. Today, Dr. Pepper is sold all across the world, including the US, Canada, Oceania, Europe, and Asia.
You can taste a blend of around 23 different ingredients in Dr. Pepper today. Every ingredient has a peculiar taste that can blend well with a certain type of alcohol or other beverage.
The original Dr. Pepper has a minty and spicy taste due to the presence of licorice, mint, and allspice. As for the other flavors like cherry, the taste depends on which one you have bought.
Can You Add Alcohol To Dr. Pepper?
Yes, you can definitely add alcohol to Dr. Pepper. Just like any other soda or soft drink, Dr. Pepper is also used to make various cocktails today.
But, keep in mind that not all alcohol lovers are a fan of alcohol mixed with Dr. Pepper.
So, if you want to have a good experience, you need to make certain considerations while choosing your alcohol choice. These include:
The General Taste Of Alcohol
Different types of alcohol have different tastes due to their preparation methods and ingredients. You need to decide what type of taste you’re looking for.
For instance, rum tastes spicier and sweeter than whisky whereas whisky has an aromatic and bitter taste. So, if you want your Dr. Pepper cocktail to taste sweet, opt for rum.
On the other hand, for a bittersweet taste, opt for whiskey with Dr. Pepper.
The Alcohol Content
Again, the alcohol content also differs depending on which alcohol you choose. For instance, if you want a stronger cocktail, you can opt for vodka which has 40% ABV.
You can opt for tequila if you want somewhat less alcoholic content in your Dr. Pepper cocktail. The choice is yours.
The Flavor Of Dr. Pepper
Apart from the alcohol, you also get various flavors in Dr. Pepper. Make sure that you choose a flavor that suits your taste buds and goes well with alcohol as well. Amaretto is a Dr. Pepper flavor that combines nicely with Dr. Pepper.
Now, let’s takes look at the types of alcohol that you can dump into your Dr. Pepper!
7 Best Alcohol To Dump Into Your Dr. Pepper
1. Rum
Rum is one of the most common alcohols that is used in cocktails. In fact, it is popularly used with many soft drinks, including coke. However, many people aren’t aware of how amazing rum tastes with Dr. Pepper as well.
Rum has a sweet and spicy taste which is versatile enough to suit any soft drink, including Dr. Pepper. I suggest using Captain Morgan rum as it is considered one of the best to use with Dr. Pepper.
Why Use Rum With Dr. Pepper?
Rum has a lovely sweet and spicy taste that suits the minty flavor of Dr. Pepper really well. This combination is exceptionally ideal if you love sugary cocktails.
However, you may want to try out another combination if you don’t like too much sweetness in your drinks.
How To Use Rum With Dr. Pepper?
There are some quick steps to making a Dr. Pepper cocktail with rum. All you need to do is get a good-quality rum, such as Captain Morgan. Then, mix it with Dr. Pepper.
Add the cocktail to a glass filled with ice and enjoy your Dr. Morgan drink!
2. Vodka
Vodka is yet another alcohol that is used with a variety of sodas and soft drinks due to its neutral and subtle taste. Hence, you can say that adding vodka to Dr. Pepper can help in neutralizing the overall cocktail.
Vodka can also give a kick to the soft drink due to its high alcohol content.
Why Use Vodka With Dr. Pepper?
If you are someone who doesn’t like the strong taste of alcohol, then vodka is your safe bet. When vodka is mixed with any other soda or soft drink, its flavor is mixed but you still get the alcohol feel.
So, if you want the basic taste of Dr. Pepper to remain but want to make it alcoholic, go for vodka always!
How To Use Vodka With Dr. Pepper?
Take a glass and add some ice to it. Then, add your favorite vodka drink. Finally, top it off with Dr. Pepper and enjoy your alcoholic version of it!
3. Whiskey
If you like the traditional and aromatic taste of alcohol, then you can always try combining whiskey with Dr. Pepper.
A whiskey adds a strong alcoholic taste with Dr. Pepper. But, keep in mind that Dr. Pepper will dominate most of the taste of your cocktail here. So, if you’re looking for something authentic, drink Whiskey without any additions.
Why Use Whiskey With Dr. Pepper?
Whisky can add a nice tinge of smokiness to your Dr. Pepper. Moreover, if you specifically go for whiskey flavors, such as cinnamon-flavored whiskey, you can even make your Dr. Pepper taste like the perfect combination of sweetness and spiciness.
How To Use Whiskey With Dr. Pepper?
I highly recommend using cinnamon whiskey, such as Fireball. You can pour some ice into a glass, add around 2 ounces of cinnamon whiskey with 1 can of Dr. Pepper.
Trust me, it works wonders and tastes amazing!
4. Gin
Gin is also a great choice if you want to add something to your Dr. Pepper. This alcohol has a peculiar taste of pine due to its natural ingredients. So, Dr. Pepper and Gin make for a refreshing drink.
Why Use Gin With Dr. Pepper?
If you don’t like the extremely sweet taste of Dr. Pepper, you can make use of gin to drown it down. Gin has a pepper-like flavor, along with a fruity flavor too. Hence, you get the perfect combination of a minty flavor, with pepper and fruit-like notes too!
How To Use Gin With Dr. Pepper?
If you want you can prepare a Gin and Dr. Pepper cocktail. All you need to do is take a glass, fill it with ice. Then, add Gin first, followed by Dr. Pepper.
If you want, you can also add some amount of Grenadine for a lovely color and berry-like flavor.
5. Brandy
Brandy is a type of alcohol that has a sweet taste, along with fresh and fruity notes. Hence, it may work well with Dr. Pepper too. According to me, the only issue you may face here is that the cocktail may get very sweet.
Why Use Brandy With Dr. Pepper?
I recommend using brandy with Dr. Pepper as it has quite a unique fruity flavor that’s not found in other alcohol types. Moreover, if you’re looking for a very strong and alcoholic cocktail, then you can go with brandy for sure!
Brandy is also inexpensive if you don’t go for very premium brands.
How To Use Brandy With Dr. Pepper?
Just like any other alcohol, you need to take a glass, pour some ice into it, and add brandy. Then, top it off with Dr. Pepper and enjoy your sweet and fruity cocktail!
6. Tequila
Tequila is one of the most favorite alcohol types of people today. It is because tequila has a very cool flavor due to the presence of citrus and other fruity tastes. It may also contain a slight flavor of wood and vanilla.
Why Use Tequila With Dr. Pepper?
When you mix tequila with Dr. Pepper, you get a lovely combination of spicy, vanilla cherry-like, and fruit-like tasting cocktail.
How To Use Tequila With Dr. Pepper?
Take a glass and put ice cubes inside it. Then, add some tequila to the drink, along with Dr. Pepper. You won’t regret this combination that’s for sure!
7. Absinthe
Lastly, absinthe is a unique type of alcohol that is used in various cocktails and with many soft drinks. It is more commonly used with Dr. Pepper as well!
Absinthe has a very distinctive flavor due to the presence of anise and licorice. Hence, you can say that it has some of the same flavors that are seen in Dr. Pepper.
Why Use Absinthe With Dr. Pepper?
With the unique flavors of licorice and anise in Absinthe, along with Dr. Pepper, the overall drink becomes quite delicious. Yet, there are some people who don’t prefer adding anything to Absinthe.
How To Use Absinthe With Dr. Pepper?
The method here differs slightly. First, you can add some vodka to the glass. Then, add Dr. Pepper and lastly, add some absinthe.
This combination is high in alcohol content. If you want, you can skip vodka.
So, these are some of the alcohol types that you can dump into your Dr. Pepper. Let’s take a look at some other soft drinks that you can try with alcohol.
Related Questions:
Which Soft Drinks Go Well With Alcohol?
If you’re not a fan of Dr. Pepper, don’t worry! There are many other soft drinks you can try out with alcohol. Here are the three best ones:
- Cola
Cola is one of the most common ingredients to use with alcohol. It goes with almost every other alcohol type, be it rum, whisky, or tequila. In fact, you can even make the famous Cuba Libre cocktail by using both light rum and coke.
- Lemon-Lime Soda
If you love sweet cocktails and punches, then lemon-lime soda is an ideal option for you. This soda has a sweet yet tangy taste that blends really well with alcohol like whiskey and rum.
Lemon-lime soda is the ultimate summer drink to mix with alcohol!
- Orange Soda
Orange soda is yet another excellent soft drink option with alcohol. Orange soda works miracles with mainly gin and vodka. It can also work with rum if you want a sweet flavor.
Which Is Healthier – Dr. Pepper Or Cola?
When you’re preparing cocktails, you may have a concern regarding soft drinks. Most carbonated soft drinks are quite unhealthy and pose certain risks. So, which one is the healthier alternative – Dr. Pepper or Cola?
I have found that according to many people, Dr. Pepper is a much healthier option. In fact, it is one of the healthiest soft drinks as there’s less amount of acid in it.
On the other hand, cola contains a lot of acids which makes it risky for your teeth, bones, and overall body health.
However, keep in mind that neither of the two is extremely healthy as both contain a high amount of sugars and artificial flavors which are harmful.
Is Dr. Pepper Harmful For Health?
Even though Dr. Pepper isn’t as acidic as cola or other sodas, it is still harmful.
Dr. Pepper is made up of various artificial flavors and sweeteners that can cause blood sugar problems. It also consists of high fructose corn syrup that leads to certain health issues, like kidney problems and diabetes.
So, ensure that you don’t drink too much Dr. Pepper or mix too much of it with alcohol either.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that Dr. Pepper is considered one of the most popular soft drinks today due to its unique flavor and recipe. Moreover, you can also use it with various alcoholic beverages, to build your own Dr. Pepper cocktail!
So, try some of my given ideas above and create your own unique Dr. Pepper and alcohol drinks!