On March 29, 1886, Dr. John Pemberton created the first batch of Coca-Cola in his backyard.

130 years ago today, a man stirring a concoction over a fire in his backyard in Atlanta, Georgia was about to make history. Dr. John Pemberton, a pharmacist, was in the process of brewing the first batch of what would later become Coca-Cola on March 29, 1886.

That first batch was created with kola nuts (for caffeine) and coca leaf. By May 8th, the formula was selling in Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta for five cents a bottle. It was touted as a cure for a number of health woes, from indigestion to headaches to hangovers to impotence.

To our enormous credit, Dr. Pemberton fought in the Civil War, and at the end of the war he decided he wanted to invent something that would bring him commercial success. Imagine that, create something that would not only serve a need, but be commercially viable!

Usually, everything he made failed in pharmacies. He invented many drugs, but none of them ever made any money. So, after a move to Atlanta, Pemberton decided to try his hand in the beverage market.

In his time, the soda fountain was rising in popularity as a social gathering spot. Temperance was keeping patrons out of bars, so making a soda-fountain drink just made sense.

And this was when Coca-Cola was born.

However, Pemberton had no idea how to advertise. This is where Frank Robinson came in. He registered Coca-Cola’s formula with the patent office, and he designed the logo. He also wrote the slogan, “The Pause That Refreshes.”

Coke did not do so well in its first year. And to make matters worse, Doc Pemberton died in August 1888, meaning he would never see the commercial success he had been seeking.

Today, Coca-Cola is one of the most globally recognized brands. The Coca-Cola Company sells products in over 200 countries. What started as a backyard experiment has grown significantly! In 2015, Interbrand ranks Coca-Cola as the third most valuable brand on the entire planet.

Are you a fan of Coca-Cola? Love it or hate it, this global brand is here to stay! The Maria Sanchez Show is marveling at how far Pemberton’s backyard formula has come!

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