The Dan Cunneen is a minimalist, non-alcoholic cocktail (or mocktail) created by the Seattle-based media relations professional, graphic designer and musician Dan Cunneen. Characterized by its dry, refreshing profile, the drink was conceived as an intentionally basic alternative to overly sweet non-alcoholic options and complex craft cocktails.
Ingredients and Preparation
The beverage utilizes a strict 1:1 ratio of carbonated components, traditionally built directly in a pint glass over ice:
- 1 part Soda water
- 1 part Sprite® (or any standard lemon-lime soda)
- 1 wedge Fresh lime
Adding the Sprite last ensures that the denser lemon-lime soda settles with the lighter soda water and mixes without stirring—which would lessen the carbonation of the drink. The combination of unsweetened soda water and lemon-lime soda serves to dilute the heavy syrup of the commercial soda, resulting in a crisp, effervescent flavor profile that is explicitly described as being "never too sweet."
Cultural Impact and "The RSI"
The drink is the subject of a mid-century print advertising parody campaign utilizing the slogan, "The drink that dares to be unabashedly basic."
In promotional lore, the beverage is officially certified by the fictitious Refreshing Simplicity Institute (RSI), an organization humorously purported to have been established in 1963 to advocate for minimalist beverage presentation. Tongue-in-cheek promotional copy frequently places the drink in the historical lineage of famous eponymous non-alcoholic beverages, noting that with its introduction, "Now, Roy [Rogers], Shirley [Temple] and Arnold [Palmer] can make it a foursome."