# Coca Cola (Or Any)? "Specialty" Flavors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 21, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494 "2011-01-21T20:46:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/1 "2011-01-21T20:46:54Z")
What happens to those bottles (Vanilla Coke comes to mind) that don’t make it off the grocery shelf? Sent back for credit, I guess? Recycle the plastic bottle? And then? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/2 "2011-01-21T21:20:24Z")
I’m not quite sure what you mean here. Like when the soda expires? Or when the “season is over” for that flavor or bottle type? ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/3 "2011-01-21T21:21:13Z")
Sorry! When the season’s over. Q ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/4 "2011-01-21T21:26:12Z")
You guys have a Vanilla Coke season? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/5 "2011-01-21T21:27:07Z")
Usually the stores just clearence them… or ship them off to discount stores. Like a few years ago Pepsi did a “Holiday Spice” flavor. The Everything 99cents Stores were selling them well into June. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/6 "2011-01-21T21:30:56Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > Usually the stores just clearence them.. or ship them off to discount stores. Like a few years ago Pepsi did a “Holiday Spice” flavor. The Everything 99cents Stores were selling them well into June. Wow, I wish I saw this. I never see the old flavors for sale at any dollar stores around me. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/7 "2011-01-21T21:31:35Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > Usually the stores just clearence them.. or ship them off to discount stores. Like a few years ago Pepsi did a “Holiday Spice” flavor. The Everything 99cents Stores were selling them well into June. I’ve seen those special flavors at Big Lots also. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/8 "2011-01-21T21:34:25Z")
Had not considered that, **Push You Down** , makes a lot of sense though, thanks! Q ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/9 "2011-01-21T21:48:30Z")
Another example would be the “coffee flavored Cokes” (in the original small glass bottles) which were VERY expensive ($8.00 a 6 pack IIRC). Those were a “limited edition” and I haven’t seen any since '08. Q ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/10 "2011-01-22T01:31:56Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Another example would be the “coffee flavored Cokes” (in the original small glass bottles) which were VERY expensive ($8.00 a 6 pack IIRC). Those were a “limited edition” and I haven’t seen any since '08. Coke Blak. I tried a bottle once. Horrible stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/11 "2011-01-22T02:19:39Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > Usually the stores just clearence them.. or ship them off to discount stores. Like a few years ago Pepsi did a “Holiday Spice” flavor. The Everything 99cents Stores were selling them well into June. I’ve seen a lot of odd flavors and brands in dollar stores, and there’s also the overstock & discontinued stores. There’s also at least one store locally that will sell things that are past the expiration date, in some cases, WAY past. This store also does stuff like sell dog kibble in bulk…any time a dog food bag is broken, if the original store won’t mark it down and sell it, then the kibble ends up in a huge bin of dog food. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/12 "2011-01-22T02:51:43Z")
Yup, you’re right **Lynn**. That’s why we don’t buy any edibles at dollar stores. Batteries, toiletries, sundries (whatever those are) and the occasional computer-related item. Coke Blak, yup that was it. Packed a hell of a caffeine wallop as well, as I remember. Put me in mind of my college days when I used to cram and drink Jolt Cola! 🙂 Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/13 "2011-01-22T07:31:58Z")
I know a guy who does a show online about tasting drinks. Many of them are quite old, and he (or the person who sends it to him) often gets them off the shelf. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/14 "2011-01-22T08:08:29Z")
Oh, I’ll buy edibles at a dollar/outlet store, but I will be VERY careful to check the expiration date first. Sometimes a company will try out a new product and have it die, but the product is fine and still in the expiration date. However, I won’t buy edibles at that one particular store: [http://www.towntalkfoods.net/](http://www.towntalkfoods.net/) ---
**Author:** ![ecseas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ecseas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecseas)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/15 "2011-01-22T08:23:22Z")
Vanilla coke is sold all year round here… ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/16 "2011-01-23T02:07:40Z")
> [@ecseas](#): > > Vanilla coke is sold all year round here… Where? They discontinued it for the most part in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/17 "2011-01-23T02:52:01Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Oh, I’ll buy edibles at a dollar/outlet store, but I will be VERY careful to check the expiration date first. Sometimes a company will try out a new product and have it die, but the product is fine and still in the expiration date. > > However, I won’t buy edibles at that one particular store: [http://www.towntalkfoods.net/](http://www.towntalkfoods.net/) [I suppose this is due to the botulism outbreak.](http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3349407.html) Or is there something more recent on your mind? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/18 "2011-01-25T01:07:03Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Where? They discontinued it for the most part in the US. I don’t know where he (she?) is, but I haven’t noticed it vanishing from the shelves. Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/19 "2011-01-25T02:04:56Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > [I suppose this is due to the botulism outbreak.](http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3349407.html) Or is there something more recent on your mind? Actually, I quit buying stuff from that store long before that story broke. And I quit eating anything from my mother-in-law’s kitchen, because she loved that store and thought that expiration dates were for sissies. And she wouldn’t tell you that she’d gotten a great deal on that food on the table until AFTER you’d eaten it. My digestive system is pretty fragile, and can’t handle a lot of perfectly good food. I don’t dare ask it to handle stuff that’s expired. That story, when it broke, just confirmed my worst suspicions of that market. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494/20 "2011-01-25T02:17:51Z")
One must also use caution in small privately-owned convenience stores which, to save money have been known to leave expired edibles on their shelves. I’ve started watching this and find it mostly in stores which keep some of their stuff pulled _forward_ on the shelves, with perhaps only three of that item available for purchase. Not saying this is the “rule” - only that it is something I have experienced/observed. YMMV. Q [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-or-any-specialty-flavors/568494.md?page=2)