As every Diet Coke aficionado knows, every soda is different. I will be tracking every Diet Coke I drink and chronicling their nuances

  1. From a McDonalds in Fultonville, NY. Sprightly and peppery—very strange and very good.
  2. Bottled from Wolfsburg, PA. Wide and clear, without aftertaste.
  3. From a McDonalds in Moorefield, WV. Nondescript with a slight lingering on the roof of the mouth.
  4. Bottled from Gordonsville, VA. Lacked depth of flavor and was not refreshing—a disappointment.
  5. From a Cookout in Radford, VA. Extra-tingly, almost minty. A return to form.
  6. From a McDonalds in Russell Springs, KY. Weird, half-paper cup (Versalite?). Light and clear, evaporating quickly off the tongue.
  7. From a McDonalds in Ligonier, IN. Hints of cherry, with little body.
  8. Canned from Charlevoix, MI. Extra-fizzy.
  9. From a McDonalds in Marquette, MI. Limp and lifeless.
  10. Not a Diet Coke! I stopped at a Target in Marquette and tried the new Dream Coke flavor. It does indeed taste like dreams. And watermelon.
  11. From a McDonalds in Ashland, WI. Full and spry.
  12. From a McDonalds in Fargo, ND. Quick to evaporate on the tongue.
  13. From a Hardees in Watford City, ND. Smoky (!) and tangy.
  14. From a McDonalds in Dickinson, ND. Honestly, I was so thirsty I chugged this one without deep contemplation.
  15. Canned from Culver, SD. Limp and lifeless.
  16. From a McDonalds in Rapid City, SD. Round with hints of citrus.
  17. Canned from Wall, SD. Full and tangy.
  18. From a McDonalds in Chadron, NE. Light with notes of cherry.
  19. From a McDonalds in Scottsbluff, NE. Incredibly refreshing with hints of… strawberry? A pleasant surprise!
  20. Bottled from Grand Lake, CO. Rather tart.
  21. From a McDonalds in Estes Park, CO. Dry with notes of caramel.
  22. From a McDonalds in Rawlins, WY. Upsettingly bitter, almost acrid.
  23. From a McDonalds in Jackson, WY. Full-bodied and citrusy.
  24. From a Dairy Queen in Jackson, WY. Light and delicate.
  25. From a McDonalds in Jackson, WY. Cool and most tranquil.
  26. Bottled from Grant Village, Yellowstone, WY. Refreshing but nondescript.
  27. From a McDonalds in West Yellowstone, WY. Light and delicate.
  28. From a McDonalds in Helena, MT. Full-bodied with a strong orange flavor.
  29. From a McDonalds in Whitefish, MT. Boring.
  30. From a McDonalds in Sandpoint, ID. Spry and tingly.
  31. From a McDonalds in Coeur d’Alene, ID. Enough cherry to make me pull over.
  32. From a Circle K in Connell, WA. Extra bubbles and extra citrus.
  33. From a McDonalds in Enumclaw, WA. Pure, cool fuel.
  34. From a McDonalds in Issaquah, WA. Beautifully saturated with notes of caramel.
  35. Canned from Amanda Park, WA. Tart and slightly metallic.
  36. From a McDonalds in Seaside, OR. Light hints of caramel.
  37. From a McDonalds in Madras, OR. A bit acidic, with hints of… lake water? That can’t be right
  38. From a McDonalds in Burney, CA. Nondescript.
  39. From an In-n-Out in Chico, CA. Light and cherry-ish.
  40. From a McDonalds in Yuba City, CA. Burbly and belligerent.
  41. Bottled from Yosemite Village, CA. Rudimentary.
  42. From a McDonalds in Oakhurst, CA. Refreshing as a sea breeze.
  43. From a McDonalds in Porterville, CA. The strawberry is back.
  44. From a McDonalds in Ridgeway, CA. Tugs at the back of the throat.
  45. From a Jack-in-the-Box in Pahrump, NV. Crisp and clingy.
  46. From a McDonalds in St. George, UT. Disappointingly bland.
  47. Bottled from Springdale, UT. Overpriced.
  48. Bottled from Mount Carmel Junction, UT. Tangy and full-bodied.
  49. From a restaurant in Kanab, UT. Standard fare.
  50. From a McDonalds in Kanab, UT. Crackly and heavy on the tongue.
  51. Canned from Grand Canyon National Park, AZ. Tastes exclusive—it was the last one.
  52. Bottled from Panguitch, UT. Very faint hints of lime.
  53. Bottled from Bryce Canyon National Park, UT. Minty and fresh.
  54. From a McDonalds in Moab, UT. Light and uninspiring.
  55. From a McDonalds in Alamosa, CO. Fizzy and fruity (not sure which fruit).
  56. Canned from Colorado Springs, CO. Fizzy and pleasantly filled with classic flavor.
  57. From a McDonalds in Carlsbad, NM. Very, very cherry.
  58. From a McDonalds in Kermit, TX. I think it was half Sprite.
  59. From a McDonalds in Claremore, OK. Satisfyingly thick.
  60. Bottled from the hotel bar in Jackson, MS. Serviceable in staving off boredom.
  61. Bottled from New Orleans, LA. Thick and appropriately swampy.
  62. From a McDonalds in Cheriton, VA. Tingly and mischievous.