Dead Sodas
February 7, 2007 10:04 AM Subscribe
Pepsi Blue, et al. Dead soda visited by X-Entertainment, purveyors of much 80s-90s nostalgia. Previously.
I feel so deprived! I don't remember any of those flavored Pepsi varieties... Alas, such are the drawbacks of growing up in the sticks.
posted by amyms at 10:10 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by amyms at 10:10 AM on February 7, 2007
So Orbitz was good? My only experience with it was seeing it in Clueless - I never saw it in any store near my home.
posted by luftmensch at 10:13 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by luftmensch at 10:13 AM on February 7, 2007
Why is the Crystal Pepsi in the picture that watered-down cola color? Wasn't it colorless? Did it yellow with age?
posted by amro at 10:17 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by amro at 10:17 AM on February 7, 2007
Jon, you're fucking crazy. Orbitz was like a Sprite that had been sneezed into by a tubercular hobo.
posted by Divine_Wino at 10:22 AM on February 7, 2007 [7 favorites]
posted by Divine_Wino at 10:22 AM on February 7, 2007 [7 favorites]
Jon, you're fucking crazy.
Dude, you've actually seen me eat this, was there ever any doubt. As for Orbitz being good...it wasn't great, but I thought it was OK, the gelatin stuff was a neat novelty.
posted by jonmc at 10:26 AM on February 7, 2007
Dude, you've actually seen me eat this, was there ever any doubt. As for Orbitz being good...it wasn't great, but I thought it was OK, the gelatin stuff was a neat novelty.
posted by jonmc at 10:26 AM on February 7, 2007
What, no OK Soda?
One night in 1996 my dad and I were driving through small town Arkansas on the way home from a camping trip. We came across an OK Soda vending machine next to an unused industrial building, facing a deserted parking lot. OK had been off the market for a couple of years, so the only cans for sale were the regular Coke products. But it had a large acrylic panel with Dan Clowes' stunning and commercially doomed artwork, which I quickly convinced my father we ought to steal. But we didn't have any tools besides pocket knives, and there was no way that panel was coming out.
posted by hydrophonic at 10:27 AM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
One night in 1996 my dad and I were driving through small town Arkansas on the way home from a camping trip. We came across an OK Soda vending machine next to an unused industrial building, facing a deserted parking lot. OK had been off the market for a couple of years, so the only cans for sale were the regular Coke products. But it had a large acrylic panel with Dan Clowes' stunning and commercially doomed artwork, which I quickly convinced my father we ought to steal. But we didn't have any tools besides pocket knives, and there was no way that panel was coming out.
posted by hydrophonic at 10:27 AM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
That's what I was wondering amro. Looks pretty gross.
Has anyone ever tried that mint Pepsi soda? Man, Pepsico really knows how to trot out shitty line expansions, no?
posted by Mister_A at 10:27 AM on February 7, 2007
Has anyone ever tried that mint Pepsi soda? Man, Pepsico really knows how to trot out shitty line expansions, no?
posted by Mister_A at 10:27 AM on February 7, 2007
Apparently soon to join the list: Coke Blak. Never had the guts to try it.
posted by schmedeman at 10:32 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by schmedeman at 10:32 AM on February 7, 2007
I tried coke blak (there is Pepsi Coffee too) and it should be called "Coke Bla"
posted by Hands of Manos at 10:37 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by Hands of Manos at 10:37 AM on February 7, 2007
the gelatin stuff was a neat novelty
A smoking monkey you buy in a truckstop bathroom is a neat novelty, little bits of gelatin snot floating in a soda is what happens when you stop the random drug testing in the R&D department.
posted by Divine_Wino at 10:38 AM on February 7, 2007
A smoking monkey you buy in a truckstop bathroom is a neat novelty, little bits of gelatin snot floating in a soda is what happens when you stop the random drug testing in the R&D department.
posted by Divine_Wino at 10:38 AM on February 7, 2007
On first sip it's Coke Ack, but by the end of the bottle it's Coke Meh.
posted by luftmensch at 10:39 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by luftmensch at 10:39 AM on February 7, 2007
I actually like Coke Bläk, too. Tastes kind of like Coke mixed with sweeted Folger's crystals. When I mixed some with Jack Daniels, pips dubbed the results a "Jäk Bläk."
posted by jonmc at 10:42 AM on February 7, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 10:42 AM on February 7, 2007 [3 favorites]
They used to hand out this soda called Pepsi Kona, back 10 years ago probably, in a few test markets, including Philly. It was summer, and this shit was ice-cold, and they couldn't even give it away to bike messengers. I don't know that Pepsi Kona ever saw store shelves; anybody?
posted by Mister_A at 10:43 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by Mister_A at 10:43 AM on February 7, 2007
I still have an unopened bottle of Orbitz on my shelf that was bought in Florida ten years ago. Those blobs are still suspended in the liquid.
posted by chillmost at 10:44 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by chillmost at 10:44 AM on February 7, 2007
That's the only way to make it palatable, Jon. And I liked most of the other ones...
No 7Up Gold?
posted by AJaffe at 10:45 AM on February 7, 2007
No 7Up Gold?
posted by AJaffe at 10:45 AM on February 7, 2007
For all your 1-800-I-FEEL-OK (by far the best part about OK Soda) jonesing, all of the audio is here.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 10:52 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 10:52 AM on February 7, 2007
I have some OK Soda cans in my office. I consider them one of my prized posessions. Then again, I've never tasted it. How's that for a Clowes fan girl?
Looks like Pepsi's going to be screwing with the can art on a regular basis now. Now to pray that Coke will bring back Max Headroom as spokesman.
posted by Gucky at 10:58 AM on February 7, 2007
Looks like Pepsi's going to be screwing with the can art on a regular basis now. Now to pray that Coke will bring back Max Headroom as spokesman.
posted by Gucky at 10:58 AM on February 7, 2007
chillmost--
how much for that can o' Orbitz?
I was thinking of electrifying it and turning it into a mini lava lamp for my rumpus room.
posted by Dizzy at 10:59 AM on February 7, 2007
how much for that can o' Orbitz?
I was thinking of electrifying it and turning it into a mini lava lamp for my rumpus room.
posted by Dizzy at 10:59 AM on February 7, 2007
I have an unopened can of "Dr. Smooth's Secret Recipe Soda" at home. President's Choice used to make it, and I think the secret recipe was "Step One: steal recipe for Dr. Pepper."
posted by brundlefly at 10:59 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by brundlefly at 10:59 AM on February 7, 2007
I was in High School when surge was released. Coke decided they would try handing it out for free in one of our lunches. My friend drank 7 of them. He made it through fifth hour, and then in sixth hour, he really had to go, but our teacher made him sit through a test first.
posted by drezdn at 11:00 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by drezdn at 11:00 AM on February 7, 2007
Oh, man, OK! They had it in vending machines at my boarding school in Austin.
What a total misfire that was. It actually aroused genuine antipathy. Fucking douchebags. They didn't understand our pain, man.
posted by mckenney at 11:01 AM on February 7, 2007
What a total misfire that was. It actually aroused genuine antipathy. Fucking douchebags. They didn't understand our pain, man.
posted by mckenney at 11:01 AM on February 7, 2007
I really liked OK Soda. It tasted like mixing everything in the fountain together.
I am really going to miss Sprite Remix and its descendants. I loved that stuff.
posted by mkb at 11:02 AM on February 7, 2007
I am really going to miss Sprite Remix and its descendants. I loved that stuff.
posted by mkb at 11:02 AM on February 7, 2007
Coke Blak.... it tastes like Coffee and Coke mixed, except the flavours don't mix. For me it was as if my brain was trying to decide on what flavour qualia it was supposed to be experiencing and having a really hard time doing so.
Not good. Not bad. Not ever again.
posted by christopher.taylor at 11:02 AM on February 7, 2007
Not good. Not bad. Not ever again.
posted by christopher.taylor at 11:02 AM on February 7, 2007
Haha, wikipedia is so awsome, where's the britannica entry for the Arch Deluxe (linked on the article for OK soda)
posted by delmoi at 11:03 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by delmoi at 11:03 AM on February 7, 2007
I don't know that Pepsi Kona ever saw store shelves; anybody?
I used to buy Pepsi Kona at a Superfresh supermarket in Philly in 1996 or 1997, so yes it was sold in stores, but I don't think it made it out of the test markets.
posted by Fat Guy at 11:03 AM on February 7, 2007
I used to buy Pepsi Kona at a Superfresh supermarket in Philly in 1996 or 1997, so yes it was sold in stores, but I don't think it made it out of the test markets.
posted by Fat Guy at 11:03 AM on February 7, 2007
side question: the article mentions that a lot of these products were test marketed in Chicago. I read a novel once where a marketeer says that most products are test marketed in Chicago because the Windy City's demographic profile almost exactly mirrors that of the country as a whole. Anyone know the straight poop on this?
posted by jonmc at 11:12 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by jonmc at 11:12 AM on February 7, 2007
"...bastard naked cousin named after the worst secondary character from Roseanne history."
This reference to Crystal Pepsi made me laugh out loud. I'm at work. Bad Metafilter!
Thanks for the link, luftmensch. Things like Crystal Pepsi and Orbitz are so recessed in my memory that, to any extent that I even think about them, I half assume I made them up.
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 11:14 AM on February 7, 2007
This reference to Crystal Pepsi made me laugh out loud. I'm at work. Bad Metafilter!
Thanks for the link, luftmensch. Things like Crystal Pepsi and Orbitz are so recessed in my memory that, to any extent that I even think about them, I half assume I made them up.
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 11:14 AM on February 7, 2007
For those of you who haven't seen it yet, I present the McDLT, bitches.
Warning: 80s TV commercial featuring George Costanza with hair.
posted by Mister_A at 11:16 AM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
Warning: 80s TV commercial featuring George Costanza with hair.
posted by Mister_A at 11:16 AM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
Surge came out when I was a relatively obscure senior in high school. My parents went away for a week during spring break and we had a pool, so I had a party.
I made a drink, 50% Absolut, 50% Surge. My friends dubbed it Kryptonite. At first sip it was a just bearable foulness, but by mid-cup, that second half couldn't get it into your gullet fast enough. And once there, everything on your outside came off.
Thanks to Surge, a party with 8 people became a localized Hedonism without all the old people, boosting me to fame and fortune but still no closer to the hot chicks.
In college I woke up from being floored by a gravity bong and drank a 24oz Coke cup from the dining hall filled with Kryptonite in its properly proportioned parts. I was sick for 3 days and haven't touched Surge or Absolut since then.
posted by jma at 11:30 AM on February 7, 2007 [2 favorites]
I made a drink, 50% Absolut, 50% Surge. My friends dubbed it Kryptonite. At first sip it was a just bearable foulness, but by mid-cup, that second half couldn't get it into your gullet fast enough. And once there, everything on your outside came off.
Thanks to Surge, a party with 8 people became a localized Hedonism without all the old people, boosting me to fame and fortune but still no closer to the hot chicks.
In college I woke up from being floored by a gravity bong and drank a 24oz Coke cup from the dining hall filled with Kryptonite in its properly proportioned parts. I was sick for 3 days and haven't touched Surge or Absolut since then.
posted by jma at 11:30 AM on February 7, 2007 [2 favorites]
I once got a can of Iggy Pop. I can't remember which budget cola it was, but it had a sticker with the artwork for Iggy's album Instinct wrapped around it. I did the unthinkable and opened the can, to which my pals said "dude, you drank Iggy?" It was better than the album it was promoting, if I recall correctly.
posted by hamfisted at 11:41 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by hamfisted at 11:41 AM on February 7, 2007
The world is divided into four categories:
- There are people who say "Soda" - the conformists.
- There are the people who say "Pop" - usually these people fought in WWI.
- There are the people who say "Soda Pop" - the rebels!
- And then there are people who say "Carbonated Beverage" - I suspect these people are Androids.
Your taxonomy fails to account for a glaring "Sody Pop" gap; a gap soon to be thronged by armies of aged men with canes a-swinging. You've doomed us all.
posted by cortex at 11:46 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by cortex at 11:46 AM on February 7, 2007
2. There are the people who say "Pop" - usually these people fought in WWI.
tkchrist- I hate to break it to you but the Midwestern states would love to prove you wrong on point #2.
posted by bobobox at 11:50 AM on February 7, 2007
tkchrist- I hate to break it to you but the Midwestern states would love to prove you wrong on point #2.
posted by bobobox at 11:50 AM on February 7, 2007
5- Sweetened charge water.
Okay no one says that.
I vaguely remember liking Like, but what I really miss are those clear sodas that Snapple used to make.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:51 AM on February 7, 2007
Okay no one says that.
I vaguely remember liking Like, but what I really miss are those clear sodas that Snapple used to make.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:51 AM on February 7, 2007
Bingo, bobobox!
My father-in-law from Der Gopher State even calls Schaefer Lite his "barley pop".
$8.99 a case.
posted by Dizzy at 11:53 AM on February 7, 2007
My father-in-law from Der Gopher State even calls Schaefer Lite his "barley pop".
$8.99 a case.
posted by Dizzy at 11:53 AM on February 7, 2007
2. There are the people who say "Pop" - usually these people fought in WWI.
tkchrist- I hate to break it to you but the Midwestern states would love to prove you wrong on point #2.
posted by bobobox at 1:50 PM CST on February 7 [+]
[!]
No, it's true that the Midwestern states pulled England's chestnuts out of the fire back in '18. Gave that Kaiser the what-for, we did.
posted by COBRA! at 11:53 AM on February 7, 2007
tkchrist- I hate to break it to you but the Midwestern states would love to prove you wrong on point #2.
posted by bobobox at 1:50 PM CST on February 7 [+]
[!]
No, it's true that the Midwestern states pulled England's chestnuts out of the fire back in '18. Gave that Kaiser the what-for, we did.
posted by COBRA! at 11:53 AM on February 7, 2007
He totally forgot the bubblegum flavored soda during the 80s, but that might have been a local only thing. (Thanks Grafs! Thanks for nothing)
posted by drezdn at 11:54 AM on February 7, 2007
posted by drezdn at 11:54 AM on February 7, 2007
5. Some people in New Orleans say "Cold Drink"
6. Don't forget the people who use "Coke" as a generic term - usually these people also say "ATM Machine"
posted by brundlefly at 11:59 AM on February 7, 2007
6. Don't forget the people who use "Coke" as a generic term - usually these people also say "ATM Machine"
posted by brundlefly at 11:59 AM on February 7, 2007
The world is divided into four categories:
You left out:
5. The people who call all soft drinks "Cokes"--the Texans.
Yee-ha!
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:02 PM on February 7, 2007
You left out:
5. The people who call all soft drinks "Cokes"--the Texans.
Yee-ha!
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:02 PM on February 7, 2007
Here it is Tonic but 50 miles west it is Pop. Blew my mind when I was 12 that people had different words for stuff. Plus she was cute...
posted by Gungho at 12:06 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by Gungho at 12:06 PM on February 7, 2007
I thought that the Orbitz balls were tapioca, like 'bubble tea.'
I also distinctly remember that Pepsi Crystal was clear - it probably oxidized over the years.
posted by porpoise at 12:07 PM on February 7, 2007
I also distinctly remember that Pepsi Crystal was clear - it probably oxidized over the years.
posted by porpoise at 12:07 PM on February 7, 2007
Ahhhh. Then I forgot:
5. People who say "Soft Drinks" - I think these people are either wanton capitalists, attempting to get into expensive country clubs, or are trying to get into your pants.
In the Midwest people are 30 going 110 - don't they still call radio Wireless out there? I think you people are like born with gray-whiskered five o'clock shadow, a farm subsidy application, and a story of how you arm wrestled Charles Lindbergh while ice fishing.
posted by tkchrist at 12:07 PM on February 7, 2007 [2 favorites]
5. People who say "Soft Drinks" - I think these people are either wanton capitalists, attempting to get into expensive country clubs, or are trying to get into your pants.
In the Midwest people are 30 going 110 - don't they still call radio Wireless out there? I think you people are like born with gray-whiskered five o'clock shadow, a farm subsidy application, and a story of how you arm wrestled Charles Lindbergh while ice fishing.
posted by tkchrist at 12:07 PM on February 7, 2007 [2 favorites]
6. Don't forget the people who use "Coke" as a generic term
On the west coast that has an entirely different meaning. Usually involving discussing script options and somewhere breast implants play an important role.
posted by tkchrist at 12:11 PM on February 7, 2007
On the west coast that has an entirely different meaning. Usually involving discussing script options and somewhere breast implants play an important role.
posted by tkchrist at 12:11 PM on February 7, 2007
Sometime in the mid 90's, I tried to convince my small circle of friends to always refer to soda, pop or coke as a CarboBev. Then in would gradually spread and in 10 years, everyone in america would be saying CarboBev and I could say that I started it. It didn't really catch on, though.
posted by jefbla at 12:22 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by jefbla at 12:22 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
Speak up Misser Christ, th' hawgs er squeelin' too loud fer me ol ears t heer yuh.
*fiddles with hearing aid*
Eh! uh, yeeup, Charlie Limberg n me caut us some biguns jus thu uther dee. Wass this sody yer goin on about? dont need me any uv dat fancy-pancy languish rount huhr! Hrrmph, grumble grumble.
posted by bobobox at 12:27 PM on February 7, 2007
*fiddles with hearing aid*
Eh! uh, yeeup, Charlie Limberg n me caut us some biguns jus thu uther dee. Wass this sody yer goin on about? dont need me any uv dat fancy-pancy languish rount huhr! Hrrmph, grumble grumble.
posted by bobobox at 12:27 PM on February 7, 2007
Where's the NSFW tag for the picture of Orbitz? Because just the sight of it makes me gag all over again.
(Drank gallons of Crystal Pepsi while in University, though.)
(Maybe that's why I flunked out)
posted by evilcolonel at 12:28 PM on February 7, 2007
(Drank gallons of Crystal Pepsi while in University, though.)
(Maybe that's why I flunked out)
posted by evilcolonel at 12:28 PM on February 7, 2007
Then in would gradually spread and in 10 years, everyone in america would be saying CarboBev and I could say that I started it. It didn't really catch on, though.
I dunno, the Chinese dig it.
posted by cortex at 12:29 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
I dunno, the Chinese dig it.
posted by cortex at 12:29 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
Apparently soon to join the list: Coke Blak. Never had the guts to try it.
Me, neither. With the long line over the 'a', is it supposed to be pronounced "Coke Blake"?
I was choked to see that Black Cherry Vanilla Coke is being discontinued -- I've been drinking three or four 2L bottles of the Diet version every week for the last six months or so. And I'm moving in a few months, so I can't really justify buying a couple of palletloads.
posted by solid-one-love at 12:30 PM on February 7, 2007
Me, neither. With the long line over the 'a', is it supposed to be pronounced "Coke Blake"?
I was choked to see that Black Cherry Vanilla Coke is being discontinued -- I've been drinking three or four 2L bottles of the Diet version every week for the last six months or so. And I'm moving in a few months, so I can't really justify buying a couple of palletloads.
posted by solid-one-love at 12:30 PM on February 7, 2007
With the long line over the 'a', is it supposed to be pronounced "Coke Blake"?
There are two great threats to the integrity of diactritical marks:
1. High school metalheads, and
2. Marketers.
I did try a Blake once, though. It was, as someone said above, pretty much blah. Coke, with a little bit of coffee-ish syrup and the specific flavor charm (such as it is) of actual Coke thrown off balance. Not a CarboBev worth saving.
posted by cortex at 12:34 PM on February 7, 2007
There are two great threats to the integrity of diactritical marks:
1. High school metalheads, and
2. Marketers.
I did try a Blake once, though. It was, as someone said above, pretty much blah. Coke, with a little bit of coffee-ish syrup and the specific flavor charm (such as it is) of actual Coke thrown off balance. Not a CarboBev worth saving.
posted by cortex at 12:34 PM on February 7, 2007
High school metalheads
Since I was a kid, I made the joke that "Umlaut" would be a great name for a band. And then it came true.
posted by solid-one-love at 12:37 PM on February 7, 2007
Since I was a kid, I made the joke that "Umlaut" would be a great name for a band. And then it came true.
posted by solid-one-love at 12:37 PM on February 7, 2007
Ahhhh. Then I forgot:
5. People who say "Soft Drinks" - I think these people are either wanton capitalists, attempting to get into expensive country clubs, or are trying to get into your pants.
Hey! I say soft drinks. But I think that's an Australian thing. Also popular here is simply "fizzy drinks". Nobody says pop (except visiting Americans). And soda here means soda water (what you guys call club soda, I think).
(just to help with a more complete, international terminology list)
Don't ever remember seeing Pepsi Blue :-(
posted by kisch mokusch at 12:37 PM on February 7, 2007
5. People who say "Soft Drinks" - I think these people are either wanton capitalists, attempting to get into expensive country clubs, or are trying to get into your pants.
Hey! I say soft drinks. But I think that's an Australian thing. Also popular here is simply "fizzy drinks". Nobody says pop (except visiting Americans). And soda here means soda water (what you guys call club soda, I think).
(just to help with a more complete, international terminology list)
Don't ever remember seeing Pepsi Blue :-(
posted by kisch mokusch at 12:37 PM on February 7, 2007
Wow... Surge! I actually liked that stuff. I also remember Orbitz... that stuff is frightening.
posted by troymccluresf at 12:37 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by troymccluresf at 12:37 PM on February 7, 2007
7. Fizz, or Fizzy drink here, which prompted me to discover soft drink words of the world!
posted by Sparx at 12:38 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by Sparx at 12:38 PM on February 7, 2007
Where's the doubleplusungoodcarbobev tag, luftmensch?
posted by Mister_A at 12:39 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by Mister_A at 12:39 PM on February 7, 2007
Oh, in Paris, they always ask if you want "gas" in your water. Meaning carbonated, of course.
posted by Mister_A at 12:41 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by Mister_A at 12:41 PM on February 7, 2007
No 7Up Gold?
Seconded. That was actually decent and not so much trendy as a transparentlucent attempt at creating a cola brand.
posted by yerfatma at 12:42 PM on February 7, 2007
Seconded. That was actually decent and not so much trendy as a trans
posted by yerfatma at 12:42 PM on February 7, 2007
Windy City's demographic profile almost exactly mirrors that of the country as a whole.
Not the northeast, that's for sure.. except for maybe upstate New York and New Hampshire.
posted by wfc123 at 12:50 PM on February 7, 2007
Not the northeast, that's for sure.. except for maybe upstate New York and New Hampshire.
posted by wfc123 at 12:50 PM on February 7, 2007
In High School my friends were all about the Surge...it was disgusting.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 1:19 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 1:19 PM on February 7, 2007
Well, yes, I suppose "mirrors the country as a whole" would not be the the same as "mirrors the northeast". How astute.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 1:20 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 1:20 PM on February 7, 2007
Speaking of Crystal Pepsi (I had forgotten how completely over the top the commercial is), Crystal Gravy (quicktime) anyone? You won't fully appreciate the Crystal Gravy commercial, unless you watch the Crystal Pepsi one first.
posted by nooneyouknow at 1:23 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by nooneyouknow at 1:23 PM on February 7, 2007
I vaguely remember being offended by a Crystal Pepsi radio ad in which the announcer said, "Creativity is good, but Crystal Pepsi is better." I don't want to believe it was real, but I have hard time imagining a 12 year-old me making that up.
posted by brundlefly at 1:33 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by brundlefly at 1:33 PM on February 7, 2007
"pétillant" is the generic word for fizzy stuff here in Paris, although most people just borrow from english, using "soft" as a contrast to "hard" drinks (i.e. when you sling vodka into it, your "soft" gets "hard" and you get all embarrassed).
Also, pétillant usually translates into "sparkling," but it's closer to "breaking" or "bursting," and it happens to be amusingly close to "péter," which is the French verb for "fart."
Oh, and by the way: I tasted Coke Blaak when it first appeared on Target shelves in Chicago and nearly stained my carpet. I took a case back to Canada for the holidays just to make my family taste it and be equally horrified.
Orbitz was a cute but overly sugary novelty. I was fine with the tapioca balls for the same reason that I gleefully drink bubble tea. Mmmm, mucilaginous!
posted by LMGM at 1:38 PM on February 7, 2007
Also, pétillant usually translates into "sparkling," but it's closer to "breaking" or "bursting," and it happens to be amusingly close to "péter," which is the French verb for "fart."
Oh, and by the way: I tasted Coke Blaak when it first appeared on Target shelves in Chicago and nearly stained my carpet. I took a case back to Canada for the holidays just to make my family taste it and be equally horrified.
Orbitz was a cute but overly sugary novelty. I was fine with the tapioca balls for the same reason that I gleefully drink bubble tea. Mmmm, mucilaginous!
posted by LMGM at 1:38 PM on February 7, 2007
Ha! I have an un-opened bottle of Orbitz soda, purely for the gel booger novelty factor.
posted by mnology at 2:05 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by mnology at 2:05 PM on February 7, 2007
Jolt is still around. It even comes in blue.
I had two bottles of orange-flavoured Orbitz in my freezer for nearly ten years until I tossed them out; once they thawed, the floaties weren't as floaty.
posted by solid-one-love at 2:16 PM on February 7, 2007
I had two bottles of orange-flavoured Orbitz in my freezer for nearly ten years until I tossed them out; once they thawed, the floaties weren't as floaty.
posted by solid-one-love at 2:16 PM on February 7, 2007
s-o-l, freezing probably introduced ice crystals inside the tapioca/whatever-it-is chunks and disrupted the polycarbohydrate matrix allowing water in --> increased specific gravity --> less floaty.
jOLT, ahhh... I can no longer stand sugary substances (especially high-fructose corn syrup) but I'll still get a bottle of that stuff every so often for nostalgia's sake.
posted by porpoise at 2:25 PM on February 7, 2007
jOLT, ahhh... I can no longer stand sugary substances (especially high-fructose corn syrup) but I'll still get a bottle of that stuff every so often for nostalgia's sake.
posted by porpoise at 2:25 PM on February 7, 2007
I hear they're testing Pepsi Ass-Cheese right now...
posted by Mister_A at 2:26 PM on February 7, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 2:26 PM on February 7, 2007 [2 favorites]
maxwelton:
Jolt is still alive in many places, including central Illinois where I live. If you can't find it in your favorite gas station, try here.
BTW, sugarfree or not, the Ultra is my favorite. A crisp, no aftertaste soda, which my girlfriend and I can only agree tastes "green", has a heck of a kick and has become a life saver for an overworked diabetic friend of mine...
posted by Samizdata at 2:27 PM on February 7, 2007
Jolt is still alive in many places, including central Illinois where I live. If you can't find it in your favorite gas station, try here.
BTW, sugarfree or not, the Ultra is my favorite. A crisp, no aftertaste soda, which my girlfriend and I can only agree tastes "green", has a heck of a kick and has become a life saver for an overworked diabetic friend of mine...
posted by Samizdata at 2:27 PM on February 7, 2007
Another owner of an unopened bottle of Orbitz here.
The ones I miss are Pepsi Light (ooh! hint of lemon!) and Cherry 7-Up, which tasted just like a Shirley Temple.
Wish they'd make Diet Jolt. I'd totally hit that.
posted by bink at 2:29 PM on February 7, 2007
The ones I miss are Pepsi Light (ooh! hint of lemon!) and Cherry 7-Up, which tasted just like a Shirley Temple.
Wish they'd make Diet Jolt. I'd totally hit that.
posted by bink at 2:29 PM on February 7, 2007
Heh. Maybe one of you OK soda fans wants the big square subway ad I've been hoarding all these years, with the same doomed commercial artwork referenced above. (hydrophonic, I think I love your dad.)
And, Orbitz was awesome, if only for the squick factor.
posted by whatzit at 2:56 PM on February 7, 2007
And, Orbitz was awesome, if only for the squick factor.
posted by whatzit at 2:56 PM on February 7, 2007
re Jolt: Having just got back to Boston last week after an extended absence, I found the convenience store selling JOLT GUM. Ah, just in time for the new semester...
posted by whatzit at 2:57 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by whatzit at 2:57 PM on February 7, 2007
Let me tell you a story.
One Friday, when I was in high school, I brought a turkey and mayonnaise sandwich to school. I didn't get around to eating it, so it sat in my locker over the weekend. I ate it Monday. It was a bit rancid, and I could tell that from the first bite, but I was hungry.
About a year ago, I got a quart of chicken lo mein from a chinese place, ate half, and left the other half in a bowl covered loosely with aluminum foil. A week passed. I noticed it, decided I should eat it before it spoils. Got about halfway through what was left before deciding it had already spoiled, and throwing the rest away.
It is worth noticing that I didn't react physically to any of this.
Perhaps half a year ago, I got a bottle of Coca-Cola Blak from a store, as I'd seen it and wanted to try it. I took one sip, and only barely made it the five feet to the bathroom before proceeding to vomit. That's how bad that stuff is. I am very happy to see it being discontinued.
posted by kafziel at 3:17 PM on February 7, 2007
One Friday, when I was in high school, I brought a turkey and mayonnaise sandwich to school. I didn't get around to eating it, so it sat in my locker over the weekend. I ate it Monday. It was a bit rancid, and I could tell that from the first bite, but I was hungry.
About a year ago, I got a quart of chicken lo mein from a chinese place, ate half, and left the other half in a bowl covered loosely with aluminum foil. A week passed. I noticed it, decided I should eat it before it spoils. Got about halfway through what was left before deciding it had already spoiled, and throwing the rest away.
It is worth noticing that I didn't react physically to any of this.
Perhaps half a year ago, I got a bottle of Coca-Cola Blak from a store, as I'd seen it and wanted to try it. I took one sip, and only barely made it the five feet to the bathroom before proceeding to vomit. That's how bad that stuff is. I am very happy to see it being discontinued.
posted by kafziel at 3:17 PM on February 7, 2007
Cherry 7-Up is still around, unless those cans I've been buying at my local supermarket are five years old. Great stuff (although I imagine it'd be better to just add grenadine to regular 7-Up or Sprite).
posted by neckro23 at 3:22 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by neckro23 at 3:22 PM on February 7, 2007
Retrocrush also has a amusing review of Orbitz. I'm pretty sure that "drink" is to blame for my automatic distrust of pearl tea drinks.
Speaking of long dead sodas, is anyone else mourning the loss of Vanilla Coke? I'm bummed out to hear that they're discontinuing the Black Cherry Vanilla version too, though it's nowhere nearly as good as the sweet smoothness of the original.
On preview:
neckro23, I used to like Cherry 7-Up (tasted like a ready-made Shirley Temple!), but I think they've changed the formula in recent years, as it doesn't taste as good anymore.
posted by kosher_jenny at 3:24 PM on February 7, 2007
Speaking of long dead sodas, is anyone else mourning the loss of Vanilla Coke? I'm bummed out to hear that they're discontinuing the Black Cherry Vanilla version too, though it's nowhere nearly as good as the sweet smoothness of the original.
On preview:
neckro23, I used to like Cherry 7-Up (tasted like a ready-made Shirley Temple!), but I think they've changed the formula in recent years, as it doesn't taste as good anymore.
posted by kosher_jenny at 3:24 PM on February 7, 2007
In Southern Illinois the drink of choice is still Ski. It's like crazy hillbilly Mountain Dew. Fantastic!
Vanilla Coke was only really good when mixed with Captain Morgan.
Our soda machine in High School briefly had an "energy" drink called Josta. It wasn't in the machine long, as apparently even teenagers found it undrinkable.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 3:38 PM on February 7, 2007
Vanilla Coke was only really good when mixed with Captain Morgan.
Our soda machine in High School briefly had an "energy" drink called Josta. It wasn't in the machine long, as apparently even teenagers found it undrinkable.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 3:38 PM on February 7, 2007
We used to have a long tradition of Friday Night Bar Lab.
Everybody must bring a Liquor and a Mixer. Ah. The rub? No mixer can be "standard" or truly conventional. But you can't bring gasoline or urine either. It must be considered safely consumable and not revolting by itself.
For 10 minutes each one person becomes the Mad Scientist. You have a lab coat for this. He/she puts on the lab coat and now has ALL authority over the bar.
The Mad Scientist begins to mix drinks. Carefully tracking amounts and ingredients. He assigns a "Lab Monkey" - YOU - to each drink. And you MUST drink the drink and report honestly before the 10 minutes are up.
"I'm mad... MAD I tell you!" is the swearing statement.
Then it's another Mad Scientists turn.
This is a RIOT. And you will stumble upon the best drinks EVER.
And the worst.
Surprisingly it's the BEST ones you have to watch out for. Think about it.
But. I recommend you have a futon ready for the Lab Monkeys to nest upon so they don't attempt leaving while an experiment is still coursing through their veins.
Oh. And a bucket. For. You know.
posted by tkchrist at 3:42 PM on February 7, 2007 [5 favorites]
Everybody must bring a Liquor and a Mixer. Ah. The rub? No mixer can be "standard" or truly conventional. But you can't bring gasoline or urine either. It must be considered safely consumable and not revolting by itself.
For 10 minutes each one person becomes the Mad Scientist. You have a lab coat for this. He/she puts on the lab coat and now has ALL authority over the bar.
The Mad Scientist begins to mix drinks. Carefully tracking amounts and ingredients. He assigns a "Lab Monkey" - YOU - to each drink. And you MUST drink the drink and report honestly before the 10 minutes are up.
"I'm mad... MAD I tell you!" is the swearing statement.
Then it's another Mad Scientists turn.
This is a RIOT. And you will stumble upon the best drinks EVER.
And the worst.
Surprisingly it's the BEST ones you have to watch out for. Think about it.
But. I recommend you have a futon ready for the Lab Monkeys to nest upon so they don't attempt leaving while an experiment is still coursing through their veins.
Oh. And a bucket. For. You know.
posted by tkchrist at 3:42 PM on February 7, 2007 [5 favorites]
No dnL, 7Up's evil twin? Bright green, caffeinated, everything 7Up isn't...
No Pepsi Spice, either?
posted by emelenjr at 3:46 PM on February 7, 2007
No Pepsi Spice, either?
posted by emelenjr at 3:46 PM on February 7, 2007
Just so we're all aware of what wonders Pepsi will bring us in the coming year, take a look at: http://www.thisisthebeginning.com/
No new flavors. Just different designs for the cans.
posted by grabbingsand at 4:18 PM on February 7, 2007
No new flavors. Just different designs for the cans.
posted by grabbingsand at 4:18 PM on February 7, 2007
Recently 7-11 test marketed something they called "Big Gulp" soda. It was discontinued late last year. I was sad, because it was made with real sugar (not corn syrup) and even advertised that fact right on the label. Yet it cost the same a regular soda.
Besides the regular cola flavor, there were a few other horrible flavors that were made with plain old corn syrup. I think if they had just concentrated on the good stuff and advertised it more, they could have had a hit on their hands.
posted by Potsy at 4:29 PM on February 7, 2007
Besides the regular cola flavor, there were a few other horrible flavors that were made with plain old corn syrup. I think if they had just concentrated on the good stuff and advertised it more, they could have had a hit on their hands.
posted by Potsy at 4:29 PM on February 7, 2007
No dnL, 7Up's evil twin?
Wow, I forgot about that. The logo was basically the 7Up logo upside down, which I thought was brilliant. Tasted pretty good, too, if I remember.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:07 PM on February 7, 2007
Wow, I forgot about that. The logo was basically the 7Up logo upside down, which I thought was brilliant. Tasted pretty good, too, if I remember.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:07 PM on February 7, 2007
I'm pissed they stopped making rasberry schweeps, I loved that stuff, though I only drank it at my grandma's. I think you had to show your AARP card before you could buy it.
Milwaukee is the strange odd one out in the midwest were we call soda "soda" instead of pop. But we do other weird shit too like calling drinking fountains bubblers.
posted by afu at 6:26 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
Milwaukee is the strange odd one out in the midwest were we call soda "soda" instead of pop. But we do other weird shit too like calling drinking fountains bubblers.
posted by afu at 6:26 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
Josta was an acceptable substitute for when you couldn't find Jolt.
When I worked for the largest ISP in Oklahoma in the mid-90s, the tech support department had an ongoing monthly "award" for the person who took the most calls or got a lot of customer compliments - a case of Jolt. It was hard to find even in '96, so we had an agreement with a local convenience store where they'd order extra and hold it back for us.
posted by mrbill at 6:52 PM on February 7, 2007
When I worked for the largest ISP in Oklahoma in the mid-90s, the tech support department had an ongoing monthly "award" for the person who took the most calls or got a lot of customer compliments - a case of Jolt. It was hard to find even in '96, so we had an agreement with a local convenience store where they'd order extra and hold it back for us.
posted by mrbill at 6:52 PM on February 7, 2007
My favorite memory of Surge:
As a promotion, all students at Northeastern University (my alma mata) attending a hockey game got a free bottle of Surge. NU went on to lose the game (pretty badly) and the half-empty (sometimes full) bottles of Surge ended up on the ice. The ice was green, it was quite a site.
I also drank lots of Pepsi Blue and OK soda. Since my father-in-law works for Coke we end up trying anything new they launch, including Vault, which my wife absolutely loves.
posted by turacma at 7:10 PM on February 7, 2007
As a promotion, all students at Northeastern University (my alma mata) attending a hockey game got a free bottle of Surge. NU went on to lose the game (pretty badly) and the half-empty (sometimes full) bottles of Surge ended up on the ice. The ice was green, it was quite a site.
I also drank lots of Pepsi Blue and OK soda. Since my father-in-law works for Coke we end up trying anything new they launch, including Vault, which my wife absolutely loves.
posted by turacma at 7:10 PM on February 7, 2007
Blue raspberry, of course, tasted nothing like real raspberries. The flavor was better described as the "deeply sugariest sugary sugar," and since Raging Razzberry Pepsi arrived in '91, it stands to reason that it too considered raspberry not so much as a tart berry, but as a license to sugarfy soda like it'd never been sugarfied before. Spellcheck hated this paragraph to death.
I'm in love.
posted by figment of my conation at 7:21 PM on February 7, 2007
I'm in love.
posted by figment of my conation at 7:21 PM on February 7, 2007
Thanks for posting this as I've been desperate for soda news. I can no longer find my beloved Diet Berries and Cream Dr. Pepper locally, although there's plenty of regular Berries and Cream Diet Dr. Pepper around. Does anyone know what gives? Are they discontinuing it or is this just going on in my area? The Diet Cherry Vanilla DP just isn't the same...
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:33 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:33 PM on February 7, 2007
Dr. Zira: It is available in Ohio at CVS.
posted by figment of my conation at 9:06 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by figment of my conation at 9:06 PM on February 7, 2007
Random points regarding this post and the comments:
- Surge was pretty good
- I like Vault
- Orbitz was not for drinking, it was only for looking, as attested by 75% of the thread having an unopened bottle
- In the south, "Coke" means carbonated beverage, and requires further explanation if there is more than one option. A few enclaves of "cold drink" exist (pronounced "coal-drank"), and I have occasionally encountered "sodey water".
- It was either Ski or Josta that caused my friend Doug to famously exclaim "this tastes like HORSE PISS", which was repeated basically any time someone drank a beverage for the next decade.
- Fresca used to be some nasty shit. I hear its better now, but I can't forgive
- Cheerwine fueled many a weekend D&D session
- Big Red was the bubblegum soda, and it was foul
- Sundrop is an amusing locally bottled beverage. Like Mountain Dew but not as sweet.
- There is no reason for Coke Blak to exist.
- Ever heard of Nu-Grape? Take Grape Crush, or Grape Fanta, then add a bunch of grape to it. Yeah.
- I am a strong supporter of the Orange Mountain Dew and Code Red Mountain Dew
- Cherry Coke is, truly, the nectar of the gods
- For a while, RC was making an upscale version in brown bottles and made with cane sugar. It was quite good.
- I do not know, nor have ever known, a single human being who calls it anything EXCEPT an "ATM machine".
posted by Ynoxas at 9:20 PM on February 7, 2007
- Surge was pretty good
- I like Vault
- Orbitz was not for drinking, it was only for looking, as attested by 75% of the thread having an unopened bottle
- In the south, "Coke" means carbonated beverage, and requires further explanation if there is more than one option. A few enclaves of "cold drink" exist (pronounced "coal-drank"), and I have occasionally encountered "sodey water".
- It was either Ski or Josta that caused my friend Doug to famously exclaim "this tastes like HORSE PISS", which was repeated basically any time someone drank a beverage for the next decade.
- Fresca used to be some nasty shit. I hear its better now, but I can't forgive
- Cheerwine fueled many a weekend D&D session
- Big Red was the bubblegum soda, and it was foul
- Sundrop is an amusing locally bottled beverage. Like Mountain Dew but not as sweet.
- There is no reason for Coke Blak to exist.
- Ever heard of Nu-Grape? Take Grape Crush, or Grape Fanta, then add a bunch of grape to it. Yeah.
- I am a strong supporter of the Orange Mountain Dew and Code Red Mountain Dew
- Cherry Coke is, truly, the nectar of the gods
- For a while, RC was making an upscale version in brown bottles and made with cane sugar. It was quite good.
- I do not know, nor have ever known, a single human being who calls it anything EXCEPT an "ATM machine".
posted by Ynoxas at 9:20 PM on February 7, 2007
Fresca used to be some nasty shit. I hear its better now, but I can't forgive
Fresca was the low-cal drink around when nobody cared about low-cal drinks. It was citrus-sour, but at least it wasn't aspartame-y. Now it tastes like any other diet drink, that strange, almost bitter taste of artificial sweetener mixed with that citrus flavour. No thanks. Though maybe this is a cross-border recipe difference.
Jolt gum? Have to try to find some. I loved Gatorgum (a la Gatorade) back in the day. It seemed to mine your body for all traces of moisture and deliver it to your mouth in the form of saliva.
Central/Western Canadians may remember Pic-a-Pop, the original environmentally conscious soft drink from way back in the day. Loved it. Sad that it's gone.
posted by dreamsign at 10:57 PM on February 7, 2007
Fresca was the low-cal drink around when nobody cared about low-cal drinks. It was citrus-sour, but at least it wasn't aspartame-y. Now it tastes like any other diet drink, that strange, almost bitter taste of artificial sweetener mixed with that citrus flavour. No thanks. Though maybe this is a cross-border recipe difference.
Jolt gum? Have to try to find some. I loved Gatorgum (a la Gatorade) back in the day. It seemed to mine your body for all traces of moisture and deliver it to your mouth in the form of saliva.
Central/Western Canadians may remember Pic-a-Pop, the original environmentally conscious soft drink from way back in the day. Loved it. Sad that it's gone.
posted by dreamsign at 10:57 PM on February 7, 2007
I never got finish my story about The Friday Night Bar Lab.
It had to do with
We discovered two of the most awesome drinks with odd soda pop mixtures. I don't remember proportions. But here they are:
The Godzilla Jr.
Blend:
-Dark Rum
-Limon Vodka
-Vodka
-A scoop of lime Sherbet
-Surge
Garnish with half a Orange Creamsicle - the stick makes a great swizzle after th ice cream melts.
The Big Black Hunk of Love
-Kahlua
-Bourbon
-2 tblspn Boysenberry or Huckleberry Syrup/Jam
-2 squares of raw Mexican Chocolate crushed
-A crushed up Mint Milano cookie
-Coffee (cold)
-crushed ice
Shake and do not sift. Should be chunky.
The best worst drink ever?
The Plymouth Rocks
Jones and Jones Turkey Dinner Soda mixed with brandy giblet gravy, brandy, Triple Sec, Ginger Beer, cranberries, and sage.
posted by tkchrist at 11:40 PM on February 7, 2007
It had to do with
We discovered two of the most awesome drinks with odd soda pop mixtures. I don't remember proportions. But here they are:
The Godzilla Jr.
Blend:
-Dark Rum
-Limon Vodka
-Vodka
-A scoop of lime Sherbet
-Surge
Garnish with half a Orange Creamsicle - the stick makes a great swizzle after th ice cream melts.
The Big Black Hunk of Love
-Kahlua
-Bourbon
-2 tblspn Boysenberry or Huckleberry Syrup/Jam
-2 squares of raw Mexican Chocolate crushed
-A crushed up Mint Milano cookie
-Coffee (cold)
-crushed ice
Shake and do not sift. Should be chunky.
The best worst drink ever?
The Plymouth Rocks
Jones and Jones Turkey Dinner Soda mixed with brandy giblet gravy, brandy, Triple Sec, Ginger Beer, cranberries, and sage.
posted by tkchrist at 11:40 PM on February 7, 2007
tkchrist writes "The Plymouth Rocks"
That reminds me of my idea for the Buffalo martini - with pepper vodka and a cube of smoked chicken instead of an olive.
posted by concrete at 12:15 AM on February 8, 2007
That reminds me of my idea for the Buffalo martini - with pepper vodka and a cube of smoked chicken instead of an olive.
posted by concrete at 12:15 AM on February 8, 2007
tkchrist: I've played a similar game. Our rule was: you could mix anything you wanted, and everyone had to taste it, but if there was any left over you had to finish the glass yourself. Surprisingly (or perhaps not), this didn't prevent anyone from making some truly foul concoctions.
The most memorable was Wild Turkey, Pabst Blue Ribbon, some random peach-flavored brandy we had laying around, bloody mary mix, Tabasco, black pepper, and parmesean cheese. Awful. We dubbed it the Joe Don Baker.
posted by rifflesby at 5:36 AM on February 8, 2007
The most memorable was Wild Turkey, Pabst Blue Ribbon, some random peach-flavored brandy we had laying around, bloody mary mix, Tabasco, black pepper, and parmesean cheese. Awful. We dubbed it the Joe Don Baker.
posted by rifflesby at 5:36 AM on February 8, 2007
I do not know, nor have ever known, a single human being who calls it anything EXCEPT an "ATM machine".
In Milwaukee, some people will occassionally call them TYME machines.
It's because the first atm's around here were called that. TYME stood for Take Your Money Everywhere.
posted by drezdn at 7:08 AM on February 8, 2007
In Milwaukee, some people will occassionally call them TYME machines.
It's because the first atm's around here were called that. TYME stood for Take Your Money Everywhere.
posted by drezdn at 7:08 AM on February 8, 2007
Last night at trivia, I won this courtesy of Chico Bangs:
http://www.jonessoda.com/gifs6/hldy_pack_box_2006.jpg
posted by AJaffe at 10:56 AM on February 8, 2007
http://www.jonessoda.com/gifs6/hldy_pack_box_2006.jpg
posted by AJaffe at 10:56 AM on February 8, 2007
You know, I always thought that if I ever wanted to start collecting things for no good reason, it'd be aluminum cans, because I figured it might as well be something essentially pointless and valueless.
...and now it turns out there's a whole hobby market for it.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
posted by Target Practice at 12:15 PM on February 8, 2007
...and now it turns out there's a whole hobby market for it.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
posted by Target Practice at 12:15 PM on February 8, 2007
Central/Western Canadians may remember Pic-a-Pop, the original environmentally conscious soft drink from way back in the day. Loved it. Sad that it's gone.
Not entirely -- I picked up a (non-refillable) bottle in Clear Lake, Manitoba last summer. Also, someone's trying to revive their main rival.
posted by evilcolonel at 5:06 PM on February 10, 2007
Not entirely -- I picked up a (non-refillable) bottle in Clear Lake, Manitoba last summer. Also, someone's trying to revive their main rival.
posted by evilcolonel at 5:06 PM on February 10, 2007
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posted by jonmc at 10:10 AM on February 7, 2007