In 1886, Atlanta pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola as a medicinal tonic. He originally created an alcohol-based “French Wine Coca” but switched to a non-alcoholic version when Atlanta went dry. Mixing his syrup with carbonated water at Jacob’s Pharmacy, the first glass was sold on May 8. It contained coca leaf extract (cocaine removed later) and kola nuts for caffeine. Only about nine drinks sold daily at first, but it grew into the world’s most famous soda.
