Petoskey — If you don’t know Faygo, are you even a Michigander? I’m not sure. If you don’t have a favorite flavor, you might not really be one of us. If you don’t have countless memories of birthday parties, reunions, and those insane 3-liters they used to sell, you are tragically unaware of key Michigan lore.
It feels like Faygo has just always been there. That’s because it has. It’s been around longer than any of us living today. Way back in 1907, Ben and Perry Feigenson began experimenting with early versions of the Michigan classic. The Feigensons were Russian immigrants and had the brilliant idea of converting cake frosting flavors they knew from the old world into liquid form here in the new one. That sweet, bubbly, frosting influenced liquid became our beloved Faygo soda.
All Faygo is great. There are over 50 flavors, and every Michigander should have a personal favorite. But some flavors are better than others. Some more iconic than others. Some define Faygo more than others. It begs the question: What are the most iconic Faygo flavors of all time?
5. Orange
Faygo Orange is a one-two punch to the taste buds. A go-to. It’s the entry point. It’s a silver bullet that’s always there when you want something fruitier than cola, but not so daring so as to make a meal impossible. It’s not a dessert soda. It’s right up the gut, classic Faygo.
4. Creme Soda
One of the old timey sodas. It’s been around forever. It feels like one of those sodas that your grandparents remember from their youth. “I remember drinking a creme soda on the back of our Model T when I was 8,” the 105-year-old grandfather recalls.
When I was a kid, I was put off by creme soda for this reason. The crystal clear liquid seemed boring compared to the rainbow colors of other offerings. But as I have grown older I have come to realize the beauty of creme soda. It’s a classic for a reason. It’s been around forever because it’s one of the greats. A cold Faygo creme soda on a warm, spring evening feels like Michigan.
3. Grape
Grape was one of the original flavors the Feigensons developed back in the early 1900s. The sublime beauty of Faygo’s grape soda is first savored by the eyeballs. That rich, royal purple elixir glows under the light above the dining room table, preparing your palette for the bouquet of sugary flavor. It’s practically regal.
Faygo Grape is best paired with a simple, salty dish. Greasy pizza, buttery popcorn, French fries. The flavor is robust. It’s almost a dessert soda, but simple enough to pair with food. There’s a reason it’s has been around all these years. It was there before us, and will remain after we are gone.
2. Red Pop
I have a distinct memory of Red Pop burned in my brain. It’s the middle of the summer. I just got done with a Little League game. The smell of the ball field still on my uniform. A styrofoam cup of ice-cold Red Pop. The sound of the fizzing drink. The evening light breaking through those tiny bubbles bouncing along the top of the cup.
That’s Faygo Red Pop. Sweet, icy red cutting the thirst of the summer. You can’t drink it warm. It ends up like cotton candy—too much at that point. Faygo Red Pop must be as cold as possible. Keep the bottle in the back of the fridge, fill the glass with ice, crack one on a hot summer’s day, and let the sweet release take you away.
1. Rock & Rye
What can we say about Rock & Rye? There’s no other soda that can possibly compare. No other soda fit to rule Michigan. It must be the one and only, Rock & Rye.
It’s the soda that no one outside of Michigan knows about. It’s the flavor you can only taste when you find yourself in our vast and spacious state. It’s the soda whose name describes nothing of the taste. What does Rock & Rye even mean really? You can’t know Rock & Rye unless you have tasted Rock & Rye.
Rock & Rye is somehow related to Creme Soda. When you sample them back to back it becomes obvious. There is some shared lineage. Yet, there is something mysterious lurking in Rock & Rye that can’t be identified by any living human being not familiar with the secret formula.
This is the magic of Rock & Rye. There is no other like that bubbly, burgundy drink. It can’t be imitated.
We love things that are ours and no one else’s. It’s why we like sleeping in our bed more than a hotel. Why we like our grandma’s egg salad more than anyone else’s. Why we like Faygo more than some other brand. Faygo isn’t great only because of the dizzying array of flavors. It’s great because it’s Michigan’s. It’s great because it’s ours.
O.W. Root is a writer based in Northern Michigan, with a focus on nature, food, style, and culture. Follow him on X @NecktieSalvage.
