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 exclusively in New Zealand.

Look how proud Twist looks next to this bottle.

Over the years I’ve developed a few relationships, one such was with a soda maker from New Zealand. He made some of my favorite sodas to date and is a nice guy to boot. In fact we still keep in touch here and there throughout the year. I knew Royal Crown Draft was in New Zealand, but I figured I could get it shipped here on my own dime. This proved to be fruitless as no one over there really ships soda to America. My friend stepped in and sent me a bottle. I was beyond thrilled.

Opening and drinking this bottle of soda is going to be very bittersweet for me. I’m going to get to try a rare variation of a cola I love, but after I’m done I’m likely to never have it again. It’s been sitting in my fridge for almost a week just because I didn’t want to drink it. Ah well, that’s the name of the game, right?

Now that I’ve cracked it open I get the familiar scent of RC Cola running around my nostrils. It’s richer than RC though, the aroma has more substance to it. I’m a little worried that I’ll drink this with bias, but I’ll do my best.

Whoa, that’s not what I expected at all. My initial taste reveals he flavor bottled is that of a deep cola. Flavors are rich, smooth, and not overly sweet. It really does seem like a craft cola. Had Royal Crown Draft plateaued after this initial taste I’d have been happy to try it and would easily recommend it. It’s what happens after that makes me sad that Royal Crown Draft and I probably won’t cross paths again.

As the first flavor dies down another grows from the shadows. It builds from the back of the throat, an almost chocolatey taste. This cola/semi-chocolate combination is a winner with me as I’m a big fan of chocolate cokes (Coca Cola with chocolate syrup mixed in). I can’t say that this tastes of a chocolate Coke exactly, but the essence is certainly there. Taking a sip of Royal Crown Draft fires off whatever neurons are necessary for me to remember chocolate syrup in cola.

In short, I love it. I thought I had hyped it up too much in my head, but I was pleasantly surprised with additional goodness. Now I sit and stare at this empty bottle, appreciating what I just consumed. C’mon RC Cola… let’s get this back on shelves. You’re too good to sit idly by as Coke and Pepsi take the one and two spot. There’s something to be said for number three. Number three doesn’t have as much pressure and can have fun. Sigh, maybe one day.

This soda was supplied to me by a Kind Kiwi.

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Royal Crown Draft Premium Cola

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