Cola Six

From Wellington, New Zealand comes Cola Six, a craft cola by Six Barrel Soda Co. The drink takes its name from the six years its founders spent refining the recipe, built around six key flavors: lime, orange, cinnamon, kola nut, coriander seed and vanilla. It first appeared as a syrup in February 2016, followed by a ready-to-drink version in August 2016.

The company was founded in 2012 by Joe Slater and Mike Stewart, who began producing small-batch soda syrups in 2013 as an alternative to mainstream soft drinks. In April 2025, Six Barrel Soda Co. was acquired by Matt and Tracy Day of St Andrews Limes, giving the brand a new base in Hawke’s Bay while keeping its independent character.

Cola Six is sweetened with organic cane sugar and contains 30–40 % less sugar than most mainstream colas. It stands alongside other flavors in the lineup, including Lemonade, Ginger Ale and Creaming Soda, helping cement Six Barrel Soda’s reputation in New Zealand’s growing craft soda scene.