Yes — Dr Pepper was literally invented by mixing multiple soda syrups until Alderton found the right combination, which is why it has that famously complex “23 flavors” profile today.

• Inventor: Dr Pepper was created in 1885 by Charles Alderton, a young pharmacist working at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas.
• Inspiration: Alderton loved the way the drugstore smelled — a mix of all the fruit syrups used at the soda fountain. He wanted to capture that scent in a drink.
• Experimentation: He began mixing different fruit-flavored syrups from the fountain’s stock, testing them on himself and coworkers. After many tries, he created a unique, layered flavor unlike any other soda of the time.
• Result: The drink became popular among customers, who initially called it the “Waco.”
• Name: It was later named Dr Pepper, though the exact origin of the name is still debated (some say it came from the father of a girl one of the owners had courted, others say it was simply chosen to suggest a healthful, medicinal quality).

The Full Story:

In the late nineteenth century, soda fountains were a popular gathering place, often located inside drugstores. Customers would stop in not only for prescriptions and remedies but also for refreshing carbonated drinks flavored with fruit syrups. It was in this environment, in 1885, that Charles Alderton, a young pharmacist working at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, began to experiment with a new beverage that would eventually become Dr Pepper.

Alderton had grown fond of the distinctive aroma that filled the drugstore—an almost perfumed blend created by the mingling of all the fruit syrups kept on hand for fountain drinks. Rather than focusing on a single dominant fruit flavor, as was typical of most sodas of the day, he became fascinated with the idea of capturing that combined essence in liquid form. His approach was unusual: instead of inventing a single new syrup, he began mixing existing flavors together, layering them to see what kind of taste he could achieve.

After repeated trials, tasting and tweaking his mixtures, Alderton arrived at a formula that stood out from the ordinary. The result was complex, with hints of fruit, spice, and sweetness that no one could pin down to a single ingredient. Customers at the drugstore were intrigued, and soon began requesting “that new drink.” At first, locals simply called it the “Waco,” in honor of the town where it was served.

The concoction’s popularity grew so quickly that Alderton, who had little interest in mass production, allowed the store’s owner, Wade Morrison, to take over broader distribution. It was during this transition that the drink was given its now-famous name, Dr Pepper. The precise origin of the name remains a point of debate—some claim it was chosen to honor an actual physician named Dr. Charles Pepper, the father of a young woman Morrison once admired, while others argue it was simply intended to evoke a sense of healthfulness and authority, qualities people often associated with doctors at the time.

Whatever its naming origin, the uniqueness of the flavor was undeniable. Unlike colas, which had a fairly straightforward taste, Dr Pepper carried a profile that seemed to come from dozens of different notes interwoven together. Over the years, the company has leaned into this mystery, advertising the drink as containing “23 flavors,” though the exact blend has never been disclosed. That aura of secrecy only added to its allure.

Thus, the invention of Dr Pepper did indeed begin as a simple act of mixing sodas at a drugstore counter. Alderton’s desire to capture a complex bouquet of flavors in a single glass gave rise to one of the most enduring and distinctive soft drinks in American history.