I’m very familiar with regifting.
My son’s Paw Patrol coloring book, which he received from a relative for his birthday, eventually became a birthday gift for his classmate. You might ask, “How dare I take a gift away from my five-year-old child?”
Well, how dare you assume my child actually likes Paw Patrol? He calls it Pawful Patrol because it’s too silly, predictable, there are too many different shows, and the pups are on everything when we go shopping.
Anyway, as someone who regifts, I can see what Coca-Cola is doing with its “new” Holiday Creamy Vanilla flavor. It tastes like Coke is regifting us Vanilla Coke in a fancy holiday wrapper, which is why the quotes are around the word “new” in the previous sentence.
The festive gold and red can states that the cola is “creamy vanilla flavored” and features a swirl that looks like sepia-toned whipped cream, soft serve, or shaving cream. The pretty can also says “Contains No Dairy.” No kidding. It also doesn’t have anything I’d call creamy or holiday-ish.
I thought “creamy” meant it would have a stronger vanilla flavor than Vanilla Coke, but I actually think it has about the same vanilla level as I remember the original Vanilla Coke having, or maybe slightly less. Also, I believed “holiday” meant it would have some different spices or be a slight reformulation of the original Coca-Cola recipe to highlight certain ingredients. But, nope, it tastes pretty much like regular Coca-Cola Vanilla to me.
Now, tasting like Vanilla Coke isn’t a dealbreaker. It’s slightly behind Cherry Coke as my favorite flavored Coca-Cola variation, so I won’t complain about having to drink 12 cans of this regifted Coke flavor that tastes like it. Oh, it’s also available in 20-ounce bottles, and there’s a zero sugar version.
But if I don’t drink all of them, I guess I could give them as gifts and turn them into stocking stuffers.
Purchased Price: $13.99*
Size: 12-pack/12 fl oz cans
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 150 calories, 0 grams of fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 42 grams of carbohydrates, 42 grams of sugar (including 42 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 34 milligrams of caffeine.
*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.
I wish I had seen this yesterday because I trust you.
This flavor has been really hard to find in my somewhat remote shopping zone and I was really on the fence about even trying it. I thought if I could find a single bottle I would investigate to see if this is any different than the prior version of vanilla Coke — or was in fact a holiday flavor and not just a new wrapper and box?
I finally found a store that had two 12 packs left and clerk says they keep flying off the shelves and so — what the hell I went ahead and bought the 12 packs. Last night.
And all it is — is a new wrapper illustration and in my mind not remotely different than the regular Vanilla Coke.
All I did was frustrate myself and waste gasoline looking for it.
Will I finish it — maybe.
But I’m a tad miffed at Coke that it’s just smoke and mirrors and box design.
Actually, because it’s hard to find I may take these to the office gift exchange.
I grabbed one because it was in the checkout. the first mouthful is soooo foamy with tons of vanilla flavor and after that, it’s gone. none left in the bottle. very strange. a coworker told me I should have opened it, closed it, and shook it.
I love Vanilla Coke so this would be a straight up win for me if it wasn’t so bloody expensive now! 🙁
Huh. I’ve heard very different and very positive reviews. That said, paying $13.99 for a 12-pack of soda would piss me off too.
5 per 12 pack acme must buy 3 12 packs
Meh. That’s my reaction to this “new” flavor. I bought it at Walmart, after seeing several reviews claiming it tasted more like Coke mixed with cream soda, than regular vanilla Coke. Not to my tastebuds. I’m gonna pick up a bottle the regular version to compare side by side, just to be sure.