Coca-Cola Cinnamon

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Ever since I heard that Coke was making a cinnamon flavored version of itself I’ve been excited.  I’m excited about the prospect of what this could taste like. Cinnamon, in my mind at least, seems like it would pair perfectly with the harsh cola bite that Coke is famous for.  The cinnamon flavor is also a great gateway drug to convince my brain that the holiday are now upon us. Other great holiday gateway drugs are egg nog, signs for Christmas tree farms, and me looking for the family “pink salad” recipe. 

Cinnamon is the name Twist went by from 1975-1976

So come with me on my trip as I ingest literal thoughts and memories of the holidays.

The aroma that comes off the top of this newly opened can is pure Coke.  The only difference I’ve noticed is that my nose tingles just a bit more at the end of the sniff.  I didn’t mean to continue the drug analogy, but it appears I am in spades.

Yes, this is exactly what I wanted from Coca Cola Cinnamon.  I want them to release this every holiday season so I can anticipate their arrival on store shelves.

From the word “go” the cinnamon flavoring makes itself known.  This isn’t a half hearted effort. Coke went in fully embracing the cinnamon lifestyle and nailed it.  The Coca Cola flavor steps in stride right along the side of the guest star. Just as I dreamed these two flavors work excellently as a team, just like Peanut Butter and Jelly, Cookies and Milk, Clifford and Emily Elizabeth, Oscar and Slimey, Peaches and Cream, Babs and Buster, Hi and Lois, Calvin and Hobbes, Wilykit and Wilykat, Roy Focker and Claudia Grant, Sifl and Olly, Archie and Betty and Veronica.

Hopefully, you get the idea.

The original Coke sizzle still exists, but the cinnamon flavor lingers a little bit on the back end. This makes sure you’re left with only the warmest and fuzziest of holiday thoughts.  That said, I’m enjoying this out of an 8oz can and I can tell you that ounces 1-7 were fantastic. Ounce number 8 had diminishing returns, so perhaps a 20oz bottle would make me feel different about this soda.  Thankfully I thought small.

So, thank you Coca-Cola for taking my imagination and turning it into reality.  This was a pleasure to drink and I hope everyone out there get a chance to try it.

~A

I purchased this at HEB

Sakura Cola

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Sakura Cola

In front of me sits the only pink cola I’ve come in contact with. I’m not even sure it will actually taste like cola, but the word is on the bottle no less than three times. Sakura Cola, or Cherry Blossom Cola, is today’s beverage and I’m thrilled to try it. I’m a bit rusty with my time away, but I’m hoping that this is just the drink to bring me back to the front lines of the soda review game.

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Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla

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Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla

The first I heard of Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla I was skeptical. The cola/orange pairing didn’t seem like it would work. I thought it would be too messy for the vanilla to navigate around. Now that I have it in front of me I’m kind of excited. Coca-Cola is a huge company, and they don’t release new flavors like this often. I’m sure the market research and taste tests for this new flavor point to it being a success. Why would they make it otherwise?

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Coca-Cola Georgia Peach

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Coca-Cola Georgia Peach

Ah Summer! The sun beats down oppressively onto the pavement below. Just looking outside causes beads of sweat to collect on your brow. Nothing to escape this violent hellscape other than an ice cold Coca-Cola.

First off it’s Winter. Secondly, you should be drinking water if you’re sweating that much. Finally, todays soda review isn’t just for Coca-Cola, it’s for Coca-Cola Georgia Peach.

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Dublin 1891 Red Cola

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Dublin 1891 Red Cola

I really dislike allergies. My right eye is watering like a toddler waters a plant. Thankfully, at least I believe so, I’ve got a bottle of Dublin 1891 Red Cola. Earlier this year I thought I’d reviewed every Dublin Bottling Works product, but then I stumbled upon their 1891 line. I’m not sure if the ingredients are better, but it appears as if it’s a step above their normal sodas. Just so we’re on the same page, all of Dublin’s sodas are sweetened with cane sugar.

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Coca-Cola California Raspberry

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Coca-Cola California Raspberry

Georgia peach, Florida oranges, Maine lobster, California...raspberry? I’m self admittedly not the most knowledgeable on California produce, but I’ve never not once associated raspberries with them. Upon typing “California Raspberry” into Google I end up with results featuring the Coke I’m about to drink and a nail polish color.

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Private Selection - Bourbon Barrel Cola

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Private Selection - Bourbon Barrel Cola

It’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed a cola, so when I ventured out into the wilds and found myself in a Kroger I was hopeful.  On the far end of the soda aisle, where the “fancy” sodas live, I saw a grouping of Private Selection brand beverages.  Private Selection is a Kroger brand, but they do a good job keeping their name off the bottle and go with a simple, elegant design.  Fortunately for me one of the Private Selection sodas is a cola, specifically Bourbon Barrel Cola.

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Royal Crown Draft Premium Cola

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Royal Crown Draft Premium Cola

I love RC Cola.  It’s easily my favorite mainstream cola.  Back in the mid 90’s RC released a variation called Royal Crown Draft Premium Cola, which I never got to try.  This concoction used cane sugar to sweeten as opposed to HFCS.  Eventually Royal Crown Draft vanished from American stores and eventually came to live almost WORD in New Zealand.

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1893

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1893

So to stay current I felt it necessary to review Pepsi Cola’s offering of 1893.  For those not in the know, 1893 is made with kola nut and sweetened with sugar.  This is Pepsi’s take on craft soda and the can is full of words telling you so.  It’s a “Boldly blended cola made with: Kola nut extract, Dark brown malt flavor, a touch of aromatic bitters, sparkling water, real sugar.”

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Lucky Cherry Cola

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Lucky Cherry Cola

Thanks to the Excel Bottling Company I’m able to try another soda that’s new to my palate.  While I’ve tried Lucky Club Cola I haven’t had the opportunity to try Lucky Cherry Cola.  Lucky Cherry Cola is a pure cane sugar soda that has “True Fruit & Spice” listed as an ingredient.  I don’t know what that means, but it sure seems impressive.

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Coca-Cola Life

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Those of you who read this site like a blog instead of a review site (thank you, btw) know that I don’t really dabble in the mainstream unless asked.  The three of you who fit the former descriptor also know I’m not really fond of stevia as a sweetener.  So why then did I purchase a bottle of Coca-Cola Life which is sweetened with stevia?  Sorry, let me rephrase that to get more clicks…

YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE WHY AARON DRANK COKE WITH STEVIA!  REASON NUMBER 4 WILL SHATTER ALL OF REALITY!!!

So I bought it because when I’m on the soda aisle I’ve seen numerous folks stop and stare at it.  Then they have a conversation with their significant other about it, then they walk off without trying it.  I’ve tried to help people understand what it was, but I honestly couldn’t tell them if it was good or not which is what you’re looking for in that situation.

People love Coke and even though this version of Coke is sweetened with stevia it’s also sweetened with cane sugar.  Previous reviews of mine have shown that a Cane Sugar/Stevia mix is usually a pretty good way to reduce calories and keep a nice flavor.  My 8oz bottle has 60 calories and 16 grams of sugar… less than the yogurt I just ate, but that’s not saying much.

"Life" Why Life?

Smell wise it’s a little weaker than regular Coca-Cola, but the scent is still unmistakable.  If this does indeed taste like regular Coke I’ll fully get behind this product.  Other than the fact that it’s called Coca-Cola “Life”.  That’s a bit pretentious to me.  Your soda is called “Life”, take it down a few notches.

So it tastes like a reduced calorie cola.  Granted, it tastes like a Coke brand reduced calorie cola, so they nailed that aspect of it.  Initially you get the quick bite of Coca-Cola Classic, but mouthfeel is really where the two sodas are most similar.   

There is limited flavor on the front end and the sweetness also kind of drops off on the back side, which makes the included stevia a bit more noticeable.  The “after sip” mouthfeel is a little sticky and hugs my teeth and tongue in an unpleasant, but tolerable way.  It’s not great, it’s not bad, it’s just kind something I’m drinking.  

Personally I’d choose Coca-Cola Zero over this every time as I think it gets closer to the Coke taste than “Life” does.  That kind of makes me feel that this may be a wasted product.  Does Coca-Cola Life fill the “wants to drink healthier soda without aspartame” crowd?  If anyone has the money to create something in that market it’s certainly Coca-Cola.

~A

This was purchased at my neighborhood Wal-Mart.​