Drinking 9 month old Coke - Lockdown Day 42

My Coca-Cola stash ran dangerously low this week.  While tidying up, I decided to try and extend my supply, by chilling and opening up some older Coke Bottles from my collection.  I had several 9 month old bottles of Coca Cola Classic, Coke Zero, a can of NEW Coke that was released last summer for the STRANGER THINGS Cross Promotion, and some 16 ounce cans of Coke Zero.  Here are my findings

Coke Zero

I cracked open a can and split it with my bride. I was shocked to find there was absolutely no sweetness to it at all.  I looked at my wife and asked her what it tasted like to her, and she said it was just like Seltzer water. Next, I opened a glass bottle and it was devoid of any sweetness as well. So Coke Zero obviously doesn't hold up well over time at least for 9 months anyway.

Bottled Classic Coke 

My favorite drink from the Coca-Cola line. It had plenty of carbonation and tasted perfect.  I popped it open after mowing my yard, and was super satisfying to tip up that ice cold bottle on a 90 degree day.

NEW Coke

I like New Coke, but wasn't sure how it had held up since I last drank it in 2019. I was happy to see it tasted exactly like it did when I previously drank it 9 months ago.  I made sure to savor it slowly and took a little walk down memory lane as I drank it in the afternoon while doing some writing.

I must note that all cans and bottles were stored in the dark with no crazy spikes or drops in temperature for almost a year.  As far as the Coke Zero.. I can only attribute the total absence of sweetness to the Aspartame and Acesulfame K, simply not having a very long shelf life.

I'm not sure just how old of a Coca-Cola Bottle I would crack open to try.  Nine months very well may be my limit, but in these uncertain times, you never know..

Get your 'New Coke' Before it's gone for another 34 years

If you haven't got yourself a can of New Coke yet.. you'd better hurry.  Coca-Cola announced this week that it will no longer be available for purchase after Labor Day.  I went ahead and ordered another collector's pack, which now gives me several cans for future consumption, and a couple for my Coca-Cola collection.

I really do hope they keep it alive in some form, even if it's only at their Coca-Cola Stores for sampling.  The public's response to New Coke on their website and social media was way more positive this summer than it was back in 1985, and quite frankly.. it shocked me.  I hope it shocked Coca-Cola as well, and they decide to give it a longer run or future re-release in some form.

Buy New Coke Here

Review: Re-release of NEW COKE for STRANGER THINGS 3

COKE IS IT!

Here it is folks, I finally got around to posting my review of the re-release of NEW Coke.  This is the second taste test and comparison I've performed on this product (the first was back in 1985).

So it all started when I saw this very retro 80s looking computer message on the Coke website.  My heart skipped a beat when I learned Coca-Cola was once again releasing NEW Coke!

I got online, ordered a couple collector's packs, and anxiously awaited for them to come in the mail.  Below is a picture of exactly what you get..  Coca-Cola Classic and Coke Zero limited edition Stranger Things 3 bottles, and two cans of NEW COKE.

I assembled the family for dinner on the night of the Stranger Things 3 premier, and we performed our very own taste test of Coca-Cola Classic vs. NEW COKE.

So what was the verdict?  The same as it was back in the day.  I liked it!  Just not nearly as much as Classic Coca-Cola, and definitely not as much as Lucas Sinclair loved it in Stranger Things.

The New Coke tasted more syrup-y and had considerably more carbonation that really takes its time to subside.  It had a wee bit of an aftertaste, but not bad at all.  Classic Coke has more of a caramel-y flavor, just the right amount of carbonation, and well.. that Classic taste.

The general consensus amongst my brood, was that it was good.. just not as good as the Coca-Cola Classic. It really is a solid cola in my opinion, if you like your soda really sweet.   It's actually a soda I would buy from time to time if Coca-Cola decided to re-release it on a long term basis.  I can especially foresee this soda making a great alcohol mixer.  Maybe I'll get a chance to experiment with it if Coca-Cola listens to the masses of NEW COKE fans that are begging for a re-release of the product.  Yup.. it kind shocked me too.

There was such a public backlash back in 1985 when NEW COKE was re-released. I still swear the whole product release was a conspiracy / strike of marketing GENIUS!  And I'm not the only one who believes that.

What are your thoughts?  Do you feel the same way about the original release?  Did you dig NEW COKE or hate it?  You can read about my thoughts on the original release and conspiracy theory here.

Star Wars themed Coca Cola Bottles from Galaxy's Edge

I'm a huge fan of Coca-Cola.  I'm also a lifelong Star Wars fanatic. Therefore, the cross promotion between Coca-Cola and Disney for the new Galaxy's Edge section of the Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park, produced the ultimate collectible for fans like myself.

My Coke, Diet Coke, & Sprite bottles from 'Batuu' at Galaxy's Edge in Florida.

These three guys are for my personal Coca-Cola / STAR WARS collection, so I will not be cracking them open, but I will definitely buy some for consumption on a future visit to Batuu very soon!  

Coca Cola has given me lots to be happy about this year.  First, a Stranger Things cross promotion, and now this.  What's next?  The folks in the creative and marketing departments at Coca-Cola are definitely doing a bang up job, and I can't wait to see what they come up with in the future.

NEW COKE Returns! An 80's flop.. or perfectly executed conspiracy?

Yes I get excited about stuff like this happening, and yes.. I will be buying NEW COKE once again, some 30 years later!  As part of a tie in with the show 'Stranger Things' Season Three, it looks like NEW COKE will once again be released sometime this summer.  Details are sketchy at this point, but it's coming!

NEW COKE has largely been considered a PR nightmare and failure of the Coca-Cola Company. The company unsuccessfully tried to roll out a new hipper version of Coca Cola, only for it to be hated by the masses.  Or was it a failure?

Conspiracy?

Maybe I watched too conspiracy movies as a kid, but I stand by what my 15 year old self immediately thought back in 1985, and that is.. Coca-Cola knew exactly what they were doing.  It would actually be a perfectly executed ruse if this were the case.  I mean really.. let's think about this for a minute..

• 1. Release a sub par version of a classic product.

• 2. One month later respond to the public outcry and announce the return of the original product named "Coca-Cola Classic".

• 3. Release re-branded product to market in record time.

• 4. Watch their stocks soar as everyone is drunk with nostalgia, as they are reunited with a classic piece of American history and Americana.  Not to mention recapturing the market lead against Pepsi in the brutal Soda wars of the 80s!

My friends and I performed our very own taste tests and decided we liked Old Coke better than its new counterpart.  Later that week, we all went out across town buying up cases of the old formula to stash in our bedrooms.  We knew it wouldn't last forever, so we cautiously consumed it to make it last as long as we could.  In the end.. we still had much of our stash left by the time 'Coca-Cola Classic' was hitting shelves.  Once again all was right with the world.

From what I remember, I preferred old Coke to the new formula.. but didn't hate NEW COKE by any means.  I was raised on RC Cola but would also drink Coke about 30% of the time.  I'm a sucker for nostalgia and most anything retro, so I am pretty excited about this promotion, and will be scampering to buy some new.. old.. NEW COKE this summer!