# "Vanilla Coke. I wonder what that tastes like." **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2002, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992 "2002-06-26T06:35:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/21 "2002-06-27T01:33:17Z")
Jones Soda used to have a vanilla cola that was devine, don’t know if they still do as the local shops don’t carry it. I do like VC, but it is not as good as hte stuff I make at home. ---
**Author:** ![Reinhold\_Messner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Reinhold\_Messner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reinhold_Messner)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/22 "2002-06-27T02:14:59Z")
I disagree that it’s indistinguishable from Coke Classic . . . to me, regular Coke is not very tasty _at all_. I’d prefer a Pepsi any day of the week. The flavored varieties though, particularly vanilla, are scrumptious (although I find Wild Cherry Pepsi to be better than Cherry Coke). It does have a bit of an “artificial” vanilla flavor, I think. I find it a bit more palatable (albeit more expensive) to add 1+ tsp vanilla extract to a Coke Classic. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/23 "2002-06-27T11:08:18Z")
At least the vanilla doesn’t taste particularly artificial. Diet Coke with Lemon tastes like… you know the smell of those little lemon-napkin deelies you keep in your car’s glove compartment? Yeah, like that. It tastes like someone filtered Diet Coke through some “travel wipes”. Blech. Vanilla Coke tastes like someone mixed one part Coke Classic with one part cream soda. Yum. The vanilla flavor seems more pronounced before one refrigerates it, for some reason… ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/24 "2002-06-27T13:48:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BraheSilver \* > \*\*Go to the store. Buy some Coke. Buy some vanilla extract. Put about 3/4 of a teaspoon of vanilla in a can’s worth of Coke. Stir. Drink. Sigh in ecstacy. > > The stuff on the shelves called “Vanilla Coke” is but a pale shadow of the true glory of vanilla-y Cokedom that you can make in the kitchen. I suppose that if I hadn’t been making it myself all along, I might be fooled into thinking that what’s being sold is what vanilla + Coke tastes like. \*\* I haven’t tried that, but the “Vanilla Coke” is artificially flavored (America – where we use real lemon juice in furniture polish, but use ersatz substitutes in our food) and tastes horrible. New Coke was pretty good compared to this. My very first impression was it tasted like a horrible accident at the Beach involving some suntan lotion and Coke. Bleh. After the first sip, though, the taste buds have been temporarily shut down and it only tastes nasty from there on out. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/25 "2002-06-27T14:09:24Z")
> [@](#): > > I tried a Captain ‘N’ Vanilla Coke the other day Does one drink that to the sounds of “Muskrat Love”? ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/26 "2002-06-27T14:14:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\* > Hey, if you’ve tried it, maybe you can tell me the time of day and longitude and latitude at which the vanilla was picked, so that I can tell people who give me this question. Hmmm? 🙂 \*\* well, by the taste of this Vanilla coke I am drinking, I would have to say: MADAGASCAR Tananarive 18° 55’ S 47° 33’ E (swishes vanilla coke in mouth) yes. 1:38 pm. 😉 I like vanilla coke because to me regular coke is harsh tasting (“acidic”) and it (vanilla coke) seems softer to the taste. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/27 "2002-06-28T01:32:33Z")
Heh. You know, I’ve been thinking about the Vanilla Coke ad campaign, and I’m starting to think that they hit the nail on the head: MAN ON TV: You are a curious young man. You get a Vanilla Coke. PERSON ON COUCH: Hey, Vanilla Coke. I wonder what that tastes like. TV: It has the smooth taste of vanilla, and the refreshment of Coke. PERSON: Oh okay. Well I wonder if I’d like it. TV: I think you’ll like it. PERSON: So many unanswered questions… TV: Reward your curiosity. Vanilla Coke. ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/28 "2002-06-28T04:44:11Z")
Speaking of the Vanilla Coke advertising campaign, I think it’s interesting that I’m seeing all sorts of commercial for VC, but never saw one for Lemon Coke. Maybe they did show commercials for LC, but I’m wondering if they know LC is vile stuff and might discontinue it, whereas VC is good and will kept on the market. Sheri ---
**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/29 "2002-06-28T11:02:36Z")
Some friends and I tried VC the other day- three of us said it tasted like cream soda, and the forth said he couldn’t tell the difference from normal coke. We wondered if it was one of those things that some people just can’t taste. I personally liked it. Diet Lemon Coke, on the other hand, is carbonated lemon pledge. I had about 1/4 of a bottle and now worry about waxy buildup in my esophagus. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/30 "2002-06-28T13:16:59Z")
> [@](#): > > - Originally posted by **Doug Bowe** :\* > > Years ago I recall Consumer Reports doing a soft drink story. > > The article hit themes like “flavor notes” and “mouth feel.” > > I recall they did separate Coke from Pepsi by saying that Coca Cola leaned toward vanilla while Pepsi leaned toward citrus. > For the diehards reading this…I recall they suggested that RC leaned heaviest on Cola notes. Ah ha! So Vanilla Coke is just adding to the already vanilla tones. Maybe this is why Pepsi (and Diet Pepsi) Twist gets better marks then the Lemon Coke; if Pepsi’s undertones is more citrus-based, they _also_ are going for “targeting their power audience”, as you say. My gut reaction is that vanilla would NOT go well with lemon in a pop, which could be the reason that Lemon Coke has mostly been reviled. Or not. But whatever. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Wrong_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/31 "2002-06-28T13:37:45Z")
I, too, got “mixed drink” vibes from the Vanilla Coke. It was good, but it really did remind me of drinking coke with vanilla vodka, and at 11:30 on a Monday afternoon, it was just extremely off-putting. I do have half a bottle of Captain Morgan silver in my fridge, though, so I’ll have to try some VC and Captain tonight. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Wrong_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/32 "2002-06-28T13:38:50Z")
Um, make that “11:30 on a Monday _morning_.” ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/33 "2002-06-28T14:05:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\*MAN ON TV: You are a curious young man. You get a Vanilla Coke. > PERSON ON COUCH: Hey, Vanilla Coke. I wonder what that tastes like. > TV: It has the smooth taste of vanilla, and the refreshment of Coke. > PERSON: Oh okay. Well I wonder if I’d like it. > TV: I think you’ll like it. > PERSON: So many unanswered questions… > TV: Reward your curiosity. Vanilla Coke. \*\* Chazz Palmintieri! ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992/34 "2002-06-28T21:23:07Z")
Well, I can tell you that it’s not nearly as tasty as the Vanilla Cokes that Sonic and Dairy Queen have been serving for decades… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-coke-i-wonder-what-that-tastes-like/115992.md?page=1)