Moxie

After moving to New Hampshire four years ago, I was introduced to the regional Moxie Soda, allegedly America's "oldest continually sold commercially marketed carbonated drink." It tastes something like Root Beer where all the sugar has been replaced with alum. Definitely an acquired taste.

I only learned recently what most people may already know—that the really cool word moxie, meaning "the ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage," comes from the soda (or at least its purely medicinal precursor). I would have guessed a coincidence, or perhaps the other way around, but never the truth.

I think that’s just perfect.