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Comment by jackdawed | Hacker News Reader

I went down this rabbit hole last year after buying a carbonator. Rather than mixing a bunch of oils together, I bought my flavors from Bakto Flavors (based in NJ, USA) which is founded by Dr. Daphna Havkin Frenkel who did her research in food sciences and biotechnology, focusing on vanilla. The cola flavor is really good, and I add acetic acid (Vitamin C) + electrolytes to it. If I'm feeling it, I'll add in vanilla, cherry, or lime flavors to it.

Sad to hear she passed away recently this month.

Highly recommend Bakto's natural flavors.

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> acetic acid (Vitamin C)

ascorbic acid!

Acetic acid is vinegar. Not something I'd like to taste in any soft drink.

I don't like vinegar much either, but vinegar in drinks does have a certain tradition e.g.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posca

Or more recently Switchel, which was popular in 19th century America.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switchel

I think the ready availability or citrus fruits caused their decline.

ah yes, I remember that one from some episode of Tasting History, but I could not remember the name!

Also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrub_(drink)

I'm hoping Irn-Bru will come out with Fish-n-Chips Soda with a strong vinegar finish!

In the mean time, does anyone know the formula for traditional Irn-Bru? How do you get the girders to dissolve into the syrup?

RARE Irn-Bru Advertising Poster/Calendar 1992 Demand Going to be Wee Bit Heavier

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374619031624

Irn Bru - "Made in Scotland from Girders" - Drilled Hole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoVfy_q9IFc

Irn Bru Advert - "Made in Scotland from Girders" - Steam Roller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD3LippIN40

Irn Bru Advert: Shipyard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBjYfe-QIBg

IRN-BRU Snowman Advert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yZOab5gl-4

IRN-BRU Snowman - The Sequel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8WBStu4STY

ROYALS: The Queen and Prince William visit the Irn-Bru factory | 5 News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU-0n1m-2OE

At 1:08 they hold up a precious bottle of pure secret Irn-Bru Essence. How can I get me some of that?

Soadly is getting popular in Australia as an alternative to sugar / artificial sweeteners soadas. Most use vinegar: https://www.remedydrinks.com/collections/sodaly

Are there any reasonably priced water carbonation systems that aren't sodastream adjacent?

I know there are hacks for the older sodastreams where you can buy a large tank from a foodgas company, but what I really want is a machine in my house that I can bring a cup to and fill with soda without it costing me ~$1,000.

The only cheap way to carbonate water is in a batch process, like a SoadaStream or equivalent DIY method of releasing CO2 out of a straw into water in a pressurized vessel.

If you really want a faucet that dispenses carbonated water, the cheapest method is to buy just the part of a commercial machine that does the carbonating. It consists of a high-pressure tank with a carbonated water output, and separate water and CO2 tank inputs, as well as a pump that pressurizes the input water, to match the CO2 pressure, so that the water can enter the tank.

If you search Craigslist or eBay for "carbonator with pump" you can usually find something for ~$200. Throw in another ~$100 for a used tank, regulator, and faucet, and you can get a 1920's style seltzer fountain in your own home, then add syrups if you want flavored sodas, or throw in some milk and chocolate syrup and call it an egg cream, despite it containing neither.

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