Mountain Dew

Mountain Dew is a citrus flavored soft drink, produced by PepsiCo. It was first marketed locally in 1948 and across the United States in 1964.

In the U.S. and New Zealand, Mountain Dew has a higher caffeine content than other drinks, like Pepsi or Coca-Cola, which often incurs the disapproval of health experts. However, Mountain Dew marketed in Australia and Canada (until 2005) — as well as several U.S. states — has no caffeine added at all. Mountain Dew also contains tartrazine ("FD&C yellow dye 5" in the US) which might lead to allergic reactions and hyperactivity in children.

In Europe, Mountain Dew is available in the following countries:

• Iceland (since 2002)
• Finland (since 2002)
• Poland (since 2002)
• Norway (since 2005)
• Switzerland
• Romania (since 2003)
• Germany (only at a few gas stations, and Subway restaurants)
• Spain (since 2004)
• Malta (since 2005)

A version of the drink was marketed for three years in the UK during the late 1990s. However, it is believed (more of an urban myth) that Mountain Dew is actually illegal (its American formulation at least) to sell in the UK due to its high caffeine content and excessive artificial ingredients.

Mountain Dew was originally marketed as "zero proof moonshine" and had pictures of hillbillies on the bottle until 1973. Today's marketing target is radically different. The drink is mainly marketed to people in the 20-30 year old demographic group, and Mountain Dew advertising creates a connection between the drink and extreme sports.

Recently, Mountain Dew has used the characters from Spy vs. Spy in commercials that feature them fighting over the drink.

Mountain Dew syrups are used as Slurpee flavors.

Varieties

• Mountain Dew
• Diet Mountain Dew
• Caffeine-Free Mountain Dew (confirmed available in eastern Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Vermont, North Carolina, Provo, Utah, and parts of Ohio)
• Diet Caffeine-Free Mountain Dew (confirmed available in eastern Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Virginia and Michigan)
• Mountain Dew Code Red (Cherry flavored, introduced in 2001) has a bright red color
• Diet Mountain Dew Code Red
• Mountain Dew LiveWire (Orange flavored, introduced in summer 2003 as a limited-time product -- but brought back again for summer 2004. Now a permanent addition to the Mountain Dew family.)
• Mountain Dew Baja Blast (Lime flavored, available exclusively at all Taco Bell stores starting in summer 2004)
• Mountain Dew Pitch Black (Black grape flavored) - limited edition flavor for Halloween; released in August 2004
• Mountain Dew Sport and Diet Mountain Dew Sport - Test marketed in several states in 1990-91
• Mountain Dew Energy - caffeinated Mountain Dew available in Canada, marketed as an energy drink
• AMP - an energy drink "from Mountain Dew" (2001)

Historical meanings

Mountain Dew was originally southern and/or Irish slang for moonshine (homemade whiskey), or poitín as it is called in Ireland. An 1882 song from Ireland "The Rare Old Mountain Dew" (Words by Edward Harrigan. Music by Dave Braham) begins:

Let grasses grow and waters flow

In a free and easy way,

But give me enough of the rare ould stuff,

That's made near Galway Bay,

Come gougers all from Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim too,

And we'll give them the slip and we'll take a sip,

Of the rare ould mountain dew.

A 1947 version by Grandpa Jones (1913-1998) may be better-known to Americans:

There's a big holler tree down the road here from me

where you lay down a doller er two.

When you come round the bend and when you come back again

there's a jug full of good old mountain dew

Oh they call it that old mountain dew and them that refuse it are few.

I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug with some good old mountain dew.

And one more from Bluegrass group Flatt and Scruggs:

There's a big hollow tree down the road here from me

Where you lay down a dollar or two

You stroll 'round the bend and you come back again

There's a jug full of good old mountain dew

They call it that mountain dew

And them that refuse it are few

I'll hush up my mug if you fill up my jug

With that good old mountain dew

My uncle Mort, he's sawed off and short

He measures about four foot two

But he thinks he's a giant when you give him a pint

Of that good old mountain dew

Well, my old aunt June bought some brand new perfume

If had such a sweet smelling pew

But to her surprise when she had it analyzed

It was nothing but good old mountain dew

Well, my brother Bill's got a still on the hill

Where he runs off a gallon or two

The buzzards in the sky get so drunk they can't fly

From smelling that good old mountain dew

External links

• http://mountaindew.com – Official web page
• Official list of Mountain Dew products, with ingredients and nutrition information (http://mountaindew.com/about_dew/product_info/index.php)
• Mountain Dew Baja Blast (http://www.dewbajablast.com)
• http://www.dewknight.com – A crazy guy that made armor from Mountain Dew cans

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