Vanilla cola and Derivatives

[Jinmyo]

Since last year Vanilla Coke's sales have plunged down 66.1 percent by one key measure through early July. This is indicative of what has been happening with line extensions, the industry term for variations of existing products like Coke Classic.

[fresh_a]

I still like it.

[alacarte]

Me too.

But Coca-Cola wins the Dumbest Marketing Trick for what they've done with the label: it doesn't say "Vanilla Coke," it just says "V," with the words "vanilla coke" whispered inaudibly in tiny red text on a red background. I suspect this is a failed attempt at street cred-worthiness?

[Rail Paul]

It's heavily discounted in NJ.

The nominal price for Coke products is $1.19 for a 2L bottle, usually on sale for 99 or 89. I buy Coke (or Pepsi if it's cheaper) and use the shopper card. Even when I don't buy a coke or Pepsi product, the Catalina machine issues me a $1 off 2 bottles of Vanilla Coke coupon.

If they're getting it off the shelves for a true cost of 39 cents, that's not a good sign. The other products (cherry, diet, lemon) aren't being promoted that way

[bloviatrix]

I can't find regular Vanilla Coke, only diet seems to be available.

I like making Frozen Vanilla Coke.

[ballast_regime]

I think Vanilla Coke's taste isn't as desirable as making your own, and I think a lot of people think this. What's more, the texture is thicker than regular Coke, and I don't really like it.

[KateW]

I tentatively bought a single 20 oz. bottle of Pepsi Vanilla today at the grocery store because I had been warned. But I was surprised. It's better than Vanilla Coke. I like Vanilla Coke (I like coke better in general) but Pepsi Vanilla has a natural aftertaste and Vanilla Coke doesn't. Pepsi V.'s aftertaste is like vanilla ice cream. I swear!

It's a good thing Pepsi V. is better because Pepsi products are a hell of a lot cheaper than Coke products around here.

[Schielke]

I too tried it last night and was nicely suprised. It is much better than the coke version. This is a rare occurance indeed.

Ben

[Kerouac1964]

I enjoyed my first one tonight. Very good, not overly sweet, which is so easy to do with a vanilla flavor.

[Jason Perlow]

Pepsi is definitely doing all the right things with their new product releases. Pepsi Twist and Diet Pepsi Twist was a real home run, and Pepsi Blue, although weird, doesn't taste bad.

[Pouncy]

I'm looking for recommendations on vanilla syrups to make Vanilla Cokes with. While in our house we usually use Stoli Vanil, my Vanilla Coke lovin boyfriend is deploying with the Navy to the Gulf, which means no booze on board the ship. So what are your favorite brands of vanilla syrup???

P.S. Any other care package ideas would be great, too!

[jsolomon]

I'm looking for recommendations on vanilla syrups to make Vanilla Cokes with.  While in our house we usually use Stoli Vanil, my Vanilla Coke lovin boyfriend is deploying with the Navy to the Gulf, which means no booze on board the ship.  So what are your favorite brands of vanilla syrup???

P.S. Any other care package ideas would be great, too!

Have you tried 1 cup simple syrup and 1 tsp vanilla extract? That would be my first inclination. Cheap and effective. Other things would be shortbread (always good for traveling) and a ticket back on a speed boat (but I'm in the Army )

Wish your S.O. best of luck!

[Jason Perlow]

Fox's U-bet Vanilla syrup, if you can find it. Its used for making cream sodas. And it has been used in the NYC metro area since time began to flavor soda drinks at classic ice cream parlors and soda shops.

Here is a website that will ship you some:

http://www.polsteins.com/foxub24ozvan.html

[tryska]

why not jsut buy him a case of vanilla coke?

[jhlurie]

why not jsut buy him a case of vanilla coke?

Because Coca-Cola's take on Vanilla Coke sucks.

Vanilla Pepsi is somewhat better, but still nowhere near as good as what you can make yourself.

Edited August 20, 2003 by jhlurie (log)

[Pouncy]

Buying him a case of Vanilla Coke or Pepsi is really not a good way to go about this because he has very little personal storage space. He has 2 standup lockers and the storage compartment underneath his bed (it flips up). 2 liters or cans take up quite a lot of room, and the vending machines on the mess deck carry regular Pepsi and Coke, so mixing his own is much more viable - especially if it's going to last eight months!. It's much cheaper to ship one bottle of vanilla syrup than a case of soda - at least a $20 difference in shipping costs, since it goes by weight!

He leaves Friday for eight months, so I appreciate all your good wishes! I'm on a baking spree to stock him and the other guys on his boat with cookies and fudge, and sending their mess specialist with some of my favorite recipes.

I will make some syrup for him to take with on Friday, and order some of the Fox's when I get paid, then ship it out. Thank you all so much for the recommendations!

[tryska]

ah...that makes sense.

a bottle of vanilla syrup would go a longer way than a case anyways.

[Rachel Perlow]

You should have him (or you could) compare the two and see if it is worth buying or if the homemade is better.

[jsolomon]

You should have him (or you could) compare the two and see if it is worth buying or if the homemade is better.

That is probably a really good idea. I just gave it off the top of my head... no actual experience involved.

[jhlurie]

Tried the non-diet Vanilla Pepsi last week and was reasonably impressed (well "impressed" for mainstream soda at least).

Miles better than Vanilla Coke, although that bar is pretty low. Far from perfect (I'd still take a homemade Vanilla Coke mix in most cases), but it just goes to show how much more on the ball Pepsico is than Coca Cola.

Tried the Diet variety today and was actually even more impressed. It's hard to make a decent diet, and this isn't bad. Of course Stewart's Diet Orange & Cream is still probably the "Diet" king, but its good to have a third alternative besides Diet Pepsi Twist and Diet Dr. Pepper for a mainstream entry which doesn't totally suck.

[Special Ed]

I haven't seen Vanilla Pepsi yet (it should be coming), but Pepsi Twist is my favourite mainstream soda. I agree that Pepsi certainly seems to have a better handle on what the public will embrace. Remember, they ARE the choice of the next generation!

[Kerouac1964]

Tried the Diet variety today and was actually even more impressed.  It's hard to make a decent diet, and this isn't bad.  Of course Stewart's Diet Orange & Cream is still probably the "Diet" king, but its good to have a third alternative besides Diet Pepsi Twist and Diet Dr. Pepper for a mainstream entry which doesn't totally suck. 

Ah! They are doing a diet vanilla version too? Excellent. Is it aspertame sweetened or did they finally formulate a Splenda [sucralose] sweetened diet product?

[jhlurie]

Tried the Diet variety today and was actually even more impressed.  It's hard to make a decent diet, and this isn't bad.  Of course Stewart's Diet Orange & Cream is still probably the "Diet" king, but its good to have a third alternative besides Diet Pepsi Twist and Diet Dr. Pepper for a mainstream entry which doesn't totally suck. 

Ah! They are doing a diet vanilla version too? Excellent. Is it aspertame sweetened or did they finally formulate a Splenda [sucralose] sweetened diet product?

Unfortunately... aspertame.

I have no idea why the big guys are so terrified of sucralose.

[Rachel Perlow]

Hmm, how about boiling down some Coke to use as the simple syrup and infusing it with an actual vanilla bean? That way you aren't diluting the Coke flavor or risk making it extra sweet.

[Pouncy]

You should have him (or you could) compare the two and see if it is worth buying or if the homemade is better.

Love to, but he left Friday! It was a pretty last minute idea. I'm going to send some out in the next care package with the chocolates, cookies, balsamic vinegar, and the uniform boots he forgot.