The History of Old Red Eye

Few vintage soft drink brands have captured the curiosity of collectors quite like Old Red Eye. Identified by its distinctive longhorn bottle crown, the brand remained largely forgotten for decades,

leaving behind more questions than answers.

What is known is that The Grapette Company of Camden, Arkansas introduced Old Red Eye in 1964 during a period of expansion that saw the company add new beverages to its growing family of soft drinks. Grapette reported first using the name on October 26, 1964, and filed the federal trademark just weeks later on November 12, offering the brand through its nationwide network of independent bottlers.

Although Old Red Eye appeared in regional markets—including areas of Colorado—its original flavor has never been conclusively identified. The trademark described it simply as a soft drink, leaving collectors to debate whether it was originally a root beer, cola, cream soda, or another variety altogether. That unanswered question has become part of the brand's enduring appeal.

The trademark later passed to Bunge Corporation, which continued protecting the name for soft drink concentrates before the brand eventually disappeared from the marketplace.

Rather than letting Old Red Eye remain a forgotten piece of soda history, Orca Beverage revived the trademark and gave the legendary name new life as a rich, full-bodied root beer. Today, while its

original flavor may remain one of vintage soda's enduring mysteries, Old Red Eye once again has a place on store shelves, introducing a new generation of soda lovers to one of America's most intriguing forgotten brands.