For some reason, the bulk of these news items seem to focus on beverages. In the next few months, a "dirty" version of Mountain Dew will arrive. Citrus mixed with cream soda doesn't sound like it will mesh well. Strangely enough, both Mug and A & W will come out with root beer float flavors, again with an added cream soda/vanilla taste. Even 7Up will have a new limited flavor version for summer involving mandarin orange. That one I will skip. In part because it will be an exclusive flavor for a store that isn't local. However, two new sodas are already out, and both have flavors that I absolutely adore.
First, there is Cherry Float Coke. Years ago, Coke had a cherry-vanilla version, but it was discontinued. There still are cherry and vanilla flavors available, but just not together. Now, while I don't like Coke, I love the combination of cherry and vanilla, so I went I tried it. I had the original version I few times, but I can't remember how I felt about it. This new version? Nothing. Maybe a little hint of cherry on the first sip, and some vanilla in the aftertaste, but it was basically a milder Coke. Nothing disgusting, if you don't hate Coke like me, but not enough of a flavor to call it "Cherry Float" either. Some reviews suggest drinking it at different temperatures to increase the flavor, but I don't know. I am planning on having a second bottle just in case though.
Later on that same day, I found a display featuring Pepsi's new prebiotic sodas. These apparently only come in cans. While there are two flavors, Original and Cherry Vanilla, I only tried the second. Pepsi originally had a cherry vanilla flavor years ago, which I would get sometimes, but it was discontinued, along with the vanilla flavor soon after. There still is a Wild Cherry Pepsi, but it is a little too sweet for me. Pepsi also debuted a Wild Cherry and Cream last year. I described it as tasting like how an air freshener or potpourri would smell. Somehow, this was popular enough to become a permanent flavor. I tired two bottles, but that was more than enough for me, although I might be forced to try it again. However, this is about the new flavor, which I just tired, even though I don't need the minuscule amount of extra fiber in my diet. The first sip made me gag. There was an overwhelming medicinal cherry flavor. It was so strong that it even overwhelmed the regular Pepsi taste. I couldn't even get a trace of vanilla anywhere. I drank the rest of it, hoping it would get better. It really didn't . Definitely don't think I'll be trying this one again.
This is a shame, because I love a good mix of cherry and vanilla. Dr Pepper's version of this was one of my favorite sodas of all time. The Dr Pepper website suggests that the drink is still available out there, somewhere, but I haven't seen it in a store in over a decade. This is my go-to drink at the few Freestyle machines around locally, but I rarely get to go them. Even stranger, I was having a hard time even finding my regular Cherry Dr Pepper in stores for a while, although it was back in time for my birthday last month. However, it tastes different now. Other fans think it is due to the removal of the artificial red dye, even though it never gave a flavor to the drink. Maybe it is the lack of redness that is making fans think that, but I don't know. And in case you are wondering. Yes, I sometimes mix a can of Cherry and a can of Cream Soda Dr Pepper together to try and recreate the taste of the original drink, but I never seem to get the ratios right.
