Moxie

Origin

Moxie didn't spring from an ancient myth or a battlefield cry, but from a bottle of soda. In 1876, Dr. Augustin Thompson unleashed "Moxie Nerve Food," a bitter patent medicine turned carbonated beverage, promising a powerful cure for everything from "loss of manhood" to "imbecility." Its bombastic advertising campaign hammered home the idea of invigorating courage and spirit, subtly infusing the brand name itself with a sense of pluck and determination. Though the drink’s outlandish medicinal claims eventually fizzled, its catchy name stuck, shedding its carbonated origins to become a vibrant, punchy synonym for force of character and sheer gumption. The drink's name is reportedly inspired by Moxie Falls in Maine, a place Dr. Thompson knew.