I got a good job, I work hard for my moneyWhen it’s quittin’ time, I hit the door runnin’I fire up my pickup truck and let the horses runI go flyin’ down that highway to that hide a wayStuck out in the woods to do the boot scootin’ boogie.
All summer long (until 8/31/25, that is) you can cozy up to Georgia’s PERC Coffee for a signature drink known as the Root Scootin’ Boogie. We reached out to the team at PERC to find out more about this root beer float inspired latte.
As told to Sprudge by PERC Coffee Director of Retail Amber Foreman.
On The Menu is an exploration of the best, most beautiful, most delicious and thought provoking original signature drinks on cafe menus worldwide. Read more On The Menu features exclusively on Sprudge, presented by DONA Teas & Tisanes
Is there a specific story or meaning behind the name of the drink?
Yes! It’s from a classic 90’s country song by Brooks & Dunn called Boot Scootin’ Boogie. We thought it was super fun and fit perfectly with this root beer inspired drink.
What inspired the creation of this drink?
We knew we wanted to create a signature latte beverage that was super unique, fun, and nostalgic. Root beer floats were the inspiration for the drink and it’s definitely a nostalgic summer treat. We had never seen anything similar done with coffee and root beer before and it just seemed wild enough to try! Turns out they are a super solid combination and we are stoked with how the drink turned out.
Who created it? Individual? Team effort?
Definitely a team effort. The idea actually came to me and one of our Shop Managers, Pat separately. We both told Addison Mathis, our QA Manager. They were able to run with it and create a recipe and drink build for it. It is always fun to gather ideas from our team and see it turn into a well executed drink that we get to share with our guests.
Are there any unique or locally sourced ingredients used in this drink?
We make all our syrups in house at every location. The Root Scoot syrup definitely packs a punch and holds up really well to dairy/oat milks.
How did you work to balance the flavors and create the perfect taste profile?
We have a base syrup recipe and some guidelines we try to stick to when creating new drinks. This allows for some consistency in operations and builds as well as a standard for balance and intensity of drinks from item to item. Honestly, the starting point helps, but there is still a bunch of sips and highly caffeinated days sorting through which iteration makes the cut. It’s usually a very fun day for us finalizing recipes and drink names.
What kind of coffee is used in this drink?
For this drink we use our “mild” espresso which is Brazil Legender. Its a staple in all of our shops on drip and espresso. Its really smooth, nutty, and chocolatey and lends itself really well to create a super full and rich root beer drink. Its sturdy enough to hold up to the flavors and milk but adds and extra depth as well.
Does this drink work as both hot and iced? Did that influence the recipe?
Despite what folks may think with the root beer float inspiration…. it is awesome both hot and iced. It’s definitely more popular as an iced drink. The summer in the south is no joke. However, we have some folks on the team that prefer the hot version and say it tastes like root beer candy. So whichever you are feeling, this one still hits all the nostalgic vibes no matter the temperature.
Would you recommend any food pairings to go along with it?
Definitely our breakfast crunchwrap! It has hash brown, egg, cheese, house-made percsauce all wrapped in a grilled tortilla. Its super tasty and filling. Its our most popular food item and it also goes really well with the soda inspired drink.
What are people saying about it?
People are either all in on it as soon as they see the description as die hard root beer lovers or just very surprised and intrigued to see the combination of root beer and coffee. We love to introduce folks to something wild they wouldn’t normally think to try. Most folks have been really excited to try it and its become a seasonal staple over the past couple of years.
How much does it cost?
12oz $6.5 / 16oz $7.5
Thank you!
On The Menu is an exploration of the best, most beautiful, most delicious and thought provoking original signature drinks on cafe menus worldwide. Read more On The Menu features exclusively on Sprudge, presented by DONA Teas & Tisanes
