You know that specific, sharp bite of a soda that isn't quite lemon-lime but definitely isn't just orange? That’s the space 50 50 soft drink has occupied for decades. It’s a bit of a ghost in the beverage aisle these days, depending on where you live. Some people swear it’s the best mixer ever invented. Others haven’t seen a bottle since 1994 and assume it went the way of Crystal Pepsi.
It didn't.
But it’s also not exactly the powerhouse it was back when grapefruit sodas were the "sophisticated" choice for adults who wanted something less cloying than a Cola.
The reality of 50 50 soft drink is actually a story of regional survival. It’s a grapefruit-lime soda that basically refuses to die, even as the giants like Squirt or Fresca try to suck up all the oxygen in the room. If you’ve ever stood in a grocery store in the Midwest or certain parts of the East Coast staring at a dusty bottom shelf, you’ve probably seen it. The green and yellow branding looks like a time capsule. It feels honest. It’s 50% grapefruit flavor and 50% lime flavor—at least, that’s the marketing hook that gave it the name.
Is it actually half and half? Probably not in a literal chemical sense, but the flavor profile hits that exact midpoint.
Why 50 50 Soft Drink Still Matters to Collectors and Mixologists
Honestly, the soda market is boring now. Everything is a "zero sugar" version of a legacy brand or some weird "space flavored" limited edition that tastes like burnt marshmallows. 50 50 soft drink stays in its lane.
The reason people still hunt for this specific brand—owned by AJ Canfield Company (which is now under the Keurig Dr Pepper umbrella)—is the carbonation. It’s aggressive. If you’re making a cocktail, you need a soda that can stand up to a mid-shelf gin or a heavy pour of tequila.
The Canfield Legacy
AJ Canfield is the company that gave us Diet Chocolate Fudge soda, which was a massive viral sensation in the 1980s after a newspaper column by Bob Greene basically turned it into an overnight success. But while the chocolate soda was a fad, 50 50 was the workhorse. It was the "sophisticated" choice.
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Grapefruit is a tricky flavor. It’s bitter. Most Americans grew up being told soda should be liquid candy, but 50 50 leans into that pithy, sharp citrus note. It’s why you see it pop up in "old man bars" where they’ve been serving the same three-ingredient drinks since the Carter administration. It’s reliable. It doesn't try to be "refreshing" in a fake, sugary way; it’s refreshing because it actually cuts through the film on your tongue after a greasy meal.
The Grapefruit Rivalry: 50 50 vs. Squirt vs. Fresca
People get these mixed up all the time. They shouldn't.
- Squirt is the king of the category. It’s got more "fruit" feel and a bit more cloudiness.
- Fresca is the "refined" one, usually sugar-free and very heavy on the carbonation, almost like a seltzer with an attitude.
- 50 50 soft drink is the middle child. It lacks the brand power of Squirt but has a cleaner finish than Fresca.
The lime component in 50 50 is the secret weapon. While Squirt is purely a grapefruit play, the 50 50 formula uses lime to bridge the gap between "bitter fruit" and "refreshing soda." It makes it more versatile. You can drink a 50 50 with pizza. You can't really do that with a lot of other grapefruit sodas without the flavors clashing like a bad garage band.
Where did it go?
If you can't find it, you aren't crazy.
Distribution for 50 50 soft drink is spotty. It’s one of those "zombie brands" that Keurig Dr Pepper keeps in the portfolio because it has a loyal, albeit small, following in specific territories. It’s massive in Chicago. It’s a staple in certain Pennsylvania zip codes. But if you’re looking for it in a Los Angeles 7-Eleven? Good luck. You’ll probably find a dozen types of kombucha before you find a single can of 50 50.
This scarcity has actually helped its reputation. It’s become a "if you know, you know" kind of product.
Ingredients and What’s Actually Inside the Can
Let’s be real: this is a vintage soda. It’s not a health drink.
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Most versions of 50 50 you find today are sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Back in the day, like most sodas, it was cane sugar. Some regional bottlers might still use different blends, but the standard 12oz can is a sugar bomb, just like its cousins.
- Carbonated Water (The heavy lifting).
- High Fructose Corn Syrup.
- Concentrated Grapefruit Juice (Yes, actual juice, which is why it has that slight "real" fruit bite).
- Citric Acid.
- Natural Flavors (The "lime" part of the 50/50).
- Modified Corn Starch and Ester Gum (These are stabilizers to keep the citrus oils from floating to the top).
The presence of real grapefruit juice—even in a tiny percentage—is why there’s a warning for people on certain medications. If you’re taking statins, you probably already know that grapefruit is the enemy. It interferes with how your body metabolizes the drugs. Even the small amount in a 50 50 soft drink can be enough to trigger an issue for some people. It’s a weirdly "grown-up" problem for a soda to have.
The Nostalgia Factor: Why We Can’t Let It Go
There is something deeply comforting about the 50 50 logo. It hasn't changed much. It doesn't look like it was designed by a marketing firm trying to capture "Gen Z energy." It looks like it was designed by a guy in a suit in 1972 who just wanted to communicate that there are two flavors in the can.
We live in an era of "optimization." Everything is branded to death. 50 50 feels like an accident that stayed successful. For people who grew up in the Midwest, seeing a 50 50 at a family reunion is like seeing an old uncle. You know exactly what you’re going to get. No surprises. Just a sharp, citrusy punch that makes your eyes water a little bit if you chug it too fast.
Is it "Soft" or "Hard"?
Recently, there’s been a surge in "hard" sodas. While there isn't an official "50 50 Hard Soda" taking over the shelves like Mtn Dew did, the DIY version is the original. The "50 50 and Gin" is a legendary combination in dive bars across the Rust Belt.
The grapefruit acidity hides the "burn" of cheap alcohol better than almost any other mixer. It’s a dangerous trick. You think you’re just drinking a refreshing citrus soda, and then you try to stand up and realize the 50 50 was doing a lot of heavy lifting for that bottom-shelf vodka.
How to Find 50 50 Soft Drink Today
If you’re craving that specific lime-grapefruit hit and your local grocery store is a desert, you have a few options.
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First, check the "International" or "Regional" aisles. Sometimes big retailers like Meijer or Woodman's (if you're in the Midwest) keep it stocked because they know the local demographic. Second, look at independent liquor stores. These places often carry the weird, niche sodas that the big chains won't touch because the "turnover rate" is too low.
Online is your last resort. You can find it on Amazon or specialty soda sites like Soda Emporium, but be prepared to pay a "nostalgia tax." Shipping a heavy 12-pack of liquid isn't cheap. You’ll end up paying $2 or $3 a can, which is a lot for a drink that used to be the budget option.
A Practical Checklist for the Hunt:
- Regional Bottlers: Search for "independent beverage distributors" in your city.
- Nostalgia Shops: Rocket Fizz and similar candy/soda shops almost always have it.
- The Mixology Route: If you can't find 50 50, you can approximate it. It’s not the same, but mixing 60% Squirt with 40% 7-Up gets you into the ballpark. It lacks that specific "Canfield" bite, but it’ll save your cocktail party in a pinch.
Actionable Steps for the 50 50 Fan
If you manage to get your hands on a cold can of 50 50 soft drink, don't just drink it lukewarm out of the pantry. That’s a rookie move.
1. The Temperature Rule: This soda needs to be borderline slushy. The grapefruit bitterness can become a bit "sirupy" if it's too warm. Get it as cold as possible without freezing the can.
2. The Salt Rim: Try drinking it in a glass with a salted rim. It sounds weird for a soda, but it reacts with the grapefruit juice exactly like a Paloma cocktail. It brings out the sweetness of the lime and cuts the metallic edge of the carbonation.
3. Check the Date: Because 50 50 doesn't move as fast as Coke or Pepsi, check the bottom of the can. Citrus sodas can lose their "zing" and turn a bit flat/metallic if they’ve been sitting in a hot warehouse for eighteen months. Freshness matters more for grapefruit sodas than it does for dark colas.
4. Medication Check: Seriously. If you are on any medication that has a "No Grapefruit" warning, skip this drink. Even the "natural flavors" and concentrated juice are enough to mess with your enzyme levels. It’s not worth the risk for a soda fix.
5. The Ultimate Float: Forget root beer. Use 50 50 with a high-quality lime sorbet or even a tart lemon gelato. It’s a "grown-up" float that isn't too sweet and works perfectly as a palate cleanser after a heavy dinner.
50 50 isn't trying to change the world. It’s not "disrupting" the beverage industry. It’s just a really solid, bitter-meets-sweet soda that has managed to survive the consolidation of the soft drink industry. It’s a reminder that sometimes, getting the balance exactly half-right is the best way to stay relevant for sixty years.