The Latest Battle in the Flavor Wars

Just last week, Coca-Cola debuted the newest flavor in its line-up.  This time around, cherry vanilla is being released, to join cherry and vanilla individual flavors.  This was apparently big news, even though Pepsi has had a cherry vanilla flavor for over five years, even though it hasn't been sold locally for almost a year.  And Dr. Pepper has had a cherry vanilla drinker over fifteen years.  It is no longer sold locally, either.  The only place I can get it is through special fountain dispensers that allow for the flavor combination.  I've only seen the machines at Dairy Queen though, and I only go there two or three times a year.  Strangely enough, it is those very same machines that brought about the latest flavor of Coke.  Somehow, the information gleaned from these machines helped determine the new flavor.  People liked having a Coke with the mixed cherry vanilla flavor, so Coke decided to release the flavor in cans and bottles.  Meanwhile, I can't get my own favorite Dr. Pepper in about a decade or more.  I've mentioned before how it has been a favorite of mine.  Anyway, I had a sample of the new Coke earlier today, even though I almost never drink Coke.  It's just not a favorite of mine.  I found the drink to be a little thin and watery with weak flavor.  The first sips were strong with cherry, with the vanilla as more of an aftertaste or background note.  As I continued drinking, the vanilla began to dominate as the cherry began to fade.  The last few sips had barely any flavor at all.  Maybe a hint of vanilla, if anything.  Another taster found the drink to be somewhat weaker than expected as well.  She actually likes Coke, the vanilla flavor in particular, but she has found the cherry one okay as well.  Overall, neither of us would want another, at least any time soon.  To counter Coke's new flavor introduction, both Pepsi and Dr. Pepper have new flavors coming out soon.  Pepsi will have a coffee flavored drink.  This crosses the caffeine line in ways I cannot fathom.  Since I hate the taste of coffee, I'm pretty sure I won't be trying this one out.  On the other hand, Dr. Pepper is coming out with a drink flavored with cream soda.  Basically, this means vanilla.  Dr. Pepper already had a limited edition vanilla float drink  a few years ago.  I'm not sure if this will be be of a similar flavor, but I am eager to find out.  When the last flavor came out, I would sometimes mix a can of it with a can of cherry Dr. Pepper.  It wasn't exactly the same as my old favorite, but it was fairly close.  At least as close as I could remember it.