A Tasty Mystery: Why Do Dr. Pepper Bottles Come In Different Shapes?

Here in Texas, Dr. Pepper has many devotees. And if you're a fab like I am,  you may have noticed an odd quirk about Dr. Pepper- depending on where you buy your bottle, the shape varies considerably.

The History of Dr. Pepper Bottles in Texas

Dr. Pepper is a Texas original and also a part of Texas history*. Dr. Pepper was invented way back in 1885- a year before Coca-Cola and a few years before Pepsi.

*Interestingly, the Dr. Pepper formula is kept in two separate bank vaults in Dallas, Texas. This is truly a Texas beverage, y'all. 

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Originally, a Dr. Pepper enthusiast would have to get their fix at a pharmacy equipped with a soda machine. Instead of saying, "May I have a Dr. Pepper, please?" you would have said, “Shoot me a Waco.”

(Don't say that now, it probably wouldn't go over very well.)

Bottling sodas predates Dr. Pepper by decades, so once it rose to popularity, it was distributed in glass bottles. The Dublin Dr. Pepper bottling plant still produces Dr. Pepper in glass bottles- and has been doing so since 1891.

It wasn't until the 1970s that sodas began being bottled in plastic. This took over, of course, as plastic bottles are cheaper to produce and much lighter to ship. So begins our "different region, different bottles" for Dr. Pepper.

A Dr. Pepper In Any Bottle Tastes As Sweet

Dr. Pepper lives in an interesting place in the soda-scape. It is neither Coke nor Pepsi, and yet, it is both.

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After several ownership changes over the years, Dr. Pepper is now owned by a company called Keurig Dr. Pepper.

In 30 states, Keurig Dr. Pepper bottles its own product; however, depending on the region, it may get a little help from other bottlers. Re-enter Coke and Pepsi, which is why, if you're on a road trip, your DP bottles may vary in shape.

As for me, I'll take a DDP or a DP Zero sugar, however, I can get it, especially if it's the new for 2025 Blackberry flavor!