REVIEW: Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream

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In 2024, we saw Coke discontinue its Cherry Vanilla flavor, and perhaps sensing this void in the market or wanting to get in on the dirty soda trend, Pepsi is starting the new year by introducing a new permanent flavor, Wild Cherry & Cream. I’ve always been more of a Coke person if I’m going to choose a cola, but I enjoy Wild Cherry Pepsi, so I was curious to see how it would fare when given the soda shop addition of a creamy vanilla twist.

Opening the bottle, I got those familiar, slightly spicy scents of Pepsi with a cherry hint. The cream wasn’t immediately obvious, and after a few sips, I still found it to be not very pronounced. It rounds things out on the back end of a swig, but it isn’t a strong cream soda flavor. The wild cherry is similarly kind of tame here, being more mild than in your face. I think “wild cherry” in the soda flavor world is just a way to make “cherry” sound more exciting and not necessarily a nuanced flavor based on certain cherry varieties, but I wish these cherries were bringing more exuberance to the party. C’mon, cherries, knock over a lamp or something. Spill some more cream in the communal pitcher of Pepsi.

I wish these flavors were a bit more amped, but that isn’t to say this drink is bad. In fact, it’s quite good. These are classic tastes, and they work together in harmony. I enjoy that the cherry and cream aspects obscure some of the things I don’t always love about Pepsi to begin with. It’s sweet and the cherry brings to mind candy, but I don’t find it too sweet in the way I sometimes do an original Pepsi.

This drink could work alongside a meal, at the movies with popcorn, or by itself. The flavor combo isn’t groundbreaking, but it is solid. If you’re a Pepsi fan, I could see this becoming your new favorite. If you hate Pepsi, I could see you not refusing this and perhaps even admitting that it doesn’t suck.

While Wild Cherry & Cream is currently available in cans and bottles, the bottles are only for a limited time. Also worth noting, I tried the zero sugar variety and it does not hit the same pleasant notes for me. Pepsi drinkers, rejoice in your new blend of old favorites! Everyone else, opt for full sugar if you’re going out on a limb and giving this a try. It may not be wildly innovative, but it’s a worthy addition to the Pepsi lineup.

Purchased Price: $2.49
Size: 20 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: I received a free bottle from Jewel-Osco and purchased a bottle of zero sugar, also from Jewel-Osco
Rating: 8 out of 10 (regular), 4 out of 10 (zero sugar)
Nutrition Facts: (1 bottle regular) 260 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 55 milligrams of sodium, 69 grams of total carbs, 69 grams of total sugars, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Irish Creme Oreo Thins Cookies

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Over the holiday season, when work days tend to be lighter to nonexistent and relatives tend to be more existent, I often forgo the milk in my coffee and choose to spike it with Irish cream instead. If you aren’t familiar, Irish cream is a liqueur based on whiskey with cream and additional flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. Since its invention in the 1970s, it’s become popular as a drink on its own, mixed into cocktails, and as a dessert flavoring. Just in time to help me replace my holiday creamer of choice, Oreo is debuting Irish Crème Oreo Thins, a permanent addition to its Thins lineup.

This was my first foray into Oreo Thins territory, and while I was a bit put off by the price tag, I couldn’t help but find this package and its subtle Emerald Isle theme attractive. I wasn’t prepared for opening this and finding that the thin layer of plastic that stands between you and eating these cookies would give way to the most intense Irish cream smell. It was immediately apparent that this flavor was spot on. I was almost caught off guard by how accurate the scent was and how well it continued to the flavor.

This is not one of those cases where something calls itself “brownie” flavored and then tastes like generic chocolate. This is Irish cream flavor, perfectly harnessed. It smells and tastes a bit boozy, and while I’m sure these are safe to give anyone, I think this is definitely an adult Oreo. The crème is smooth and not excessively sweet, with whiskey and chocolate notes that are complemented by the dark cocoa cookies.

For the sake of research, I dipped one in Irish cream, but that may not be the best course of action since you’re just doubling up on the same flavor. These Thins pair very well with milk, which mellows them, but are also really nice on their own. They won’t be for everyone but if you like Irish cream at all, I can’t imagine not enjoying these. I continue to be impressed by their flavor accuracy and how well it fits this format. It’s perfect as an Oreo Thin because more of this cream would almost be too much.

In terms of flavor being on point, I would rate these 10 out of 10. I don’t find the Thins to be quite as satisfying to eat as regular Oreos, but since they’ve been around for about a decade now, I’m going to consider them their own thing and this Irish Crème variation is a damn fine product. Oreo could have slapped a bunch of shamrocks on this package and pushed them for St. Patrick’s Day, but I appreciate that they didn’t. These cookies feel kind of sophisticated but also fun and certainly welcome any time of year, like a cool Oreo cousin. With a name like Erin, I’m contractually obligated to like anything Irish, but I’d score these highly even without the bias.

Purchased Price: $6.49
Size: 11.78 oz package
Purchased at: Jewel
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4 cookies) 140 calories, 6 grams of total fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of total carbs, 11 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Sprite Vanilla Frost

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Earlier this year, we were introduced to Sprite Chill, and in keeping with cool words, the lemon-lime soda is now bringing us Vanilla Frost for the holiday season. This version is exclusive to Kroger-affiliated stores, and instead of promising a cooling sensation like Chill, it sets out to keep you cozy with the classic flavor of vanilla and just maybe a hint of spice.

The packaging is adorned with a simple snowflake design that’s nondescript enough that you might accidentally grab one of these thinking it was a regular Sprite dressed in a winter sweater. If that happens to you, I hope you’re a vanilla fan because if you aren’t, you might have to take your anger out on the nearest snowman.

The drink is perfectly clear like a regular Sprite and just as bubbly and crisp as one. The vanilla flavor is noticeable from the first sniff, and while it’s not overwhelming in the taste, something about it comes across as slightly artificial. I thought this might bother me, but it ended up not being an issue as I continued drinking.

At first, it reminded me of a cream soda or something you might order at an old soda shop – it’s a little weird, you’re not sure you love it, but you can’t deny it has a certain nostalgic appeal. The vanilla isn’t overwhelming, but this drink has a dessert feel to it that reminds me of citrus pies or ice cream floats. It wouldn’t be my first choice for having alongside a meal, but it works on its own as a self-contained sippable sweet, and I could see it being a successful cocktail mixer. In addition to the usual effervescence of Sprite, this seems like it might have a bit of something else to give it an extra kick. I thought I could detect a slight gingery touch that, when combined with the vanilla, definitely pushes this drink into winter-months territory.

I purchased two bottles of this and have zero regrets, but your enjoyment of this Sprite will likely come down to your feelings about combining vanilla with lemon and lime. I found the pairing to be pleasantly wintery and would happily sip on it at a holiday party. I won’t be sad if it doesn’t return next year, but that’s also kind of the appeal of a limited edition; like a snowflake on the tongue, it’s here and it’s gone. Vanilla Frost makes my nice list, but if I wasn’t in proximity to a store that carried it, I wouldn’t overpay for a special delivery.

Purchased Price: $2.00
Size: 20 fl oz
Purchased at: Mariano’s
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bottle regular) 200 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 110 milligrams of sodium, 54 grams of carbohydrates, 54 grams of total sugars, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Starbucks Turkey Sage Danish

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Alongside the usual sweet suspects like pumpkin spice, peppermint, and gingerbread, the 2024 Starbucks holiday menu brings a new savory offering in the form of the Turkey Sage Danish. It features turkey sausage lightly coated in béchamel sauce and wrapped up in a flaky pastry. As a firm believer that turkey and stuffing shouldn’t be relegated to only a small handful of days each year, I was excited to see if this snack could capture some of those flavors in a neat little dough package.

My danish arrived lightly warmed up, and when I pulled it out of the paper bag, I was pleasantly surprised to see it nicely browned in several places and generously scattered with herbs. Two sides of the pastry are folded over like little dough arms attempting to hug their filling but ultimately letting the turkey tumble out. The sausage crumbles aren’t exactly appealing, looking like the grayish meat morsels you might find in a Hot Pocket. I happen to love Hot Pockets, so that isn’t a knock on either product, but I don’t think anyone will look at these poultry pebbles and think, “Those look tasty!” When eaten alone, they aren’t particularly flavorful. The sausage itself doesn’t seem to have much seasoning, with most of the flavor here instead coming from the herb topping. The bottom of my danish was golden and crisp, and while the middle had a bit of a doughy, not quite done texture, other parts were puffed in the flaky layers you’d look for in a laminated pastry.

This has a very familiar taste that’s less “fancy bakery pastry” and more like a slightly underbaked Pillsbury crescent roll that’s been nestled up to the stuffing on your Thanksgiving plate. I love the sagey, herb flavors here and wish they would be even more pronounced. The béchamel is a welcome addition, bringing a little creamy note and preventing things from becoming too dry, but as stated in the description, there isn’t a whole lot of it.

Sizewise, this eats like a snack more than a breakfast. Mine had a few turkey sausage crumbles in the middle, but mostly what you see on the outside is what you get, maybe two tablespoons worth. Writing up the nutrition facts, I noticed that this item has less protein than the last coffee I reviewed. It seems to be a popular trend now to cram as much protein as possible into everything, but as someone not particularly worried about that, I was happy to eat this as a savory afternoon snack. I enjoyed the Turkey Sage Danish and would probably order it again if I was looking to scratch my stuffing itch while on the go, but if you want a filling breakfast or lunch, you’ll have to pay almost $10 and gobble up two of these.

Purchased Price: $4.95
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 270 calories, 13 grams of total fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 55 milligrams of cholesterol, 480 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 5 grams of total sugar, and 8 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Holiday Cookie Signature Latte

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October is over and no matter how much Halloween candy you’re left with, the calendar is moving on to the winter months and sweets associated with them. Do you still have 25 mini Snickers? Eat ‘em quickly because it’s about to be cookie time. Dunkin’ is ushering in the season with its new Holiday Cookie Signature Latte. It’s a blend of espresso, milk, brown sugar cookie-flavored swirl syrup, and toasted almond flavor. The drink comes topped with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle, and cookie butter crumbles. At least, it should.

If you’re able to get this drink as described, I think you’re in for a treat. Dunkin’s brown sugar cookie swirl really does get the job done as far as providing you with a buttery, cookie-forward base. It works well with the espresso and gets additionally complemented by the unsweetened toasted almond flavor. The almond might be the unsung hero here because I don’t necessarily associate it with holiday cookies, but I’ll be darned if it doesn’t balance everything out. Holiday drinks tend to pile on the indulgences, but this still tastes of coffee, and it gives some holiday vibes without drowning me in sweetness. None of the components here are new, but they are enjoyable, and I would order this again if not for a major problem.

Signature lattes come with accessories. They’re always topped with whipped cream and then should be adorned with whatever really makes them stand out. A Holiday Cookie Signature Latte should come with cookie crumbles. My previous experiences with Dunkin’ tell me it excels at crumbly toppings. But I got this drink at two different locations and both were disappointingly devoid of the crumbly cookie bits. The first didn’t make an effort to substitute for them, and the second tossed on some brown sugar and cinnamon to compensate. I can’t fault the drink for being the well-balanced beverage that it is, but it feels somewhat plain and too close to some past drinks to differentiate itself. What Grinch is out there stealing all the crumbles? Can someone catch him soon because I would really like to give this one a higher rating.

Purchased Price: $5.29
Size: Medium
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 380 calories, 14 grams of total fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 51 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 45 grams of total sugar, and 10 grams of protein.

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