I Found a Cola That’s Better Than Coke

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Justine Sterling | April 11, 2026 | 1 Comment

cola that's better than coke

Credit: Liv Averett / Coca-Cola / Orca

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A cola better than Coke? Blasphemy, I know. But I tried a bunch of craft colas up against classic Coca-Cola and I swear one of them bested the behemoth. Seriously. I know. You don’t trust me. But keep reading.

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What is this magical cola that is better than Coke?

It’s Nichol Kola. Haven’t heard of it? Neither had I until our recent cola taste test. Nichol Kola and its creator H.R. Nicholson made a big splash at the 1937 National Bottlers Convention in Atlantic City, NJ. After that, the cola spread throughout the country and even into Canada. It was right up there with the other cola brands until the 1960s. What happened in the ‘60s? The brand doesn’t say. But that is when canned Coke (rather than bottled) became available.

Today, you can still get Nichol Kola in glass bottles at specialty soda stores (I found my bottle at Galco’s in Los Angeles) and online. It’s produced by Orca Beverage (which makes many other craft colas and sodas) in Mukilteo, Washington.

Okay, quaint. But why is Nichol Kola better than Coke?

Coca-Cola has a very specific, unique cola flavor that for many, including myself, is the gold standard of cola. And Nichol Kola doesn’t try to deviate from that formula. It’s not loaded with botanicals. It’s not tinged with cherry. It’s not spiked with bitter bark. It’s Coke—just more.

You know that first sip of Coke? You’re hit with that intense flavor that’s sweet and acidic at the same time with bubbles that race along your tongue and make you feel alive. Then you keep sipping and the experience mellows. Well, Nichol Kola is like that first sip of Coke but it’s continuous.

To me, Nichol Kola tastes like what Coke used to be—before mass production and ingredient efficiencies. The flavor scientists working on Nichol Kola were allowed to be generous with their scoops of cane sugar, nevermind the budget.

If you’re a regular Coke drinker, Nichol Kola probably won’t replace your cola of choice. It’s simply not as available and more expensive. But if you indulge in the occasional cola and are looking for a truly transcendent cola experience, seek out Nichol Kola. Let me know what you think in the comments, I can take it.

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About the Author

Justine Sterling

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.