Halloween isn’t even here yet, and I’m already being bombarded with holiday cheer and Yuletide glee in the store aisles. It’s an interesting moment when Fanta Ghost Face Punch is still hanging in there, mingling alongside Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla inside the frosty cooler at Fred Meyer.
Today, I’m tasting Coke’s new Holiday Creamy Vanilla flavor. You need to know if this soda is worth your time. Right off the bat: Yes. I give it five burps up. This is a delicious cola. But it comes with a caveat.
After purchasing my “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” deal, I couldn’t wait to climb back into the ScreamsMobile and twist the cap off Coke’s new Christmas drink. I enjoy a good vanilla soda. Right away, my overcompensating nostrils were struck with the soft scent of sweet frosting. Not unlike the average Vanilla Coke, I couldn’t sense anything new or different.
Selling this bubbly drink as holiday-themed, I imagined the scent would send me sailing away on a nostalgic Christmas morning breeze, but so far, I’m not reaching that quaint pine tree Valhalla.
I took my first sip. It didn’t register. So I swallowed a giant gulp.
Pleasant. But my tongue can’t decipher the difference between this and the Vanilla Coca-Cola sold without the cozy branding. It does hint at a dirty-style soda, with whiffs of Cool Whip lingering around the edges of my tongue.
I expected more of a cinnamony flavor. Perhaps there is a tiny pinch of nutmeg swimming around in there, but the cola flavor is overwhelming my oscular sensory receptors.
I like it. But it doesn’t feel special. The flavor does not whisk me into a Yuletide frenzy. Though its effervescence has me light on my feet. It’s certainly a delicately delicious guzzle that goes down easy.
I drank the whole 20 oz. bottle lickety-split. Four gulps and it was gone. I’d definitely drink it again, but I’m in an open relationship with vanilla-flavored colas and root beers to start with, so I’m not that committed to this journey.
I wouldn’t give this experience a thumbs down. I could never. But when it comes to the holiday theme? I’m just not feeling it. I could drink this on a late summer night by the pool and not be overwhelmed by the Christmas scaries. This sugary carbonated beverage is not producing hypnagogic Santa hallucinations.
Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla will pair nicely with apple or pumpkin pie. It’s more of a dessert soda. No need to bust this out in the middle of a turkey dinner. Save it for your after-gorge sweets party.
DrScreams is straight edge when it comes to pouring alcohol into my soda, but I can imagine some of my little lab rats would enjoy it as a tasty mixer. I’ll leave you with two delectable drinks you can mix together. First up, we’ve got the Apple Pie Float. You’ll want to combine Crown Royal Apple with Holiday Creamy Vanilla Coke for a flavor reminiscent of apple pie with a scoop of ice cream. Next, why not try Boozy Vanilla Cold Foam Soda? Mix 1.5 oz. of vanilla vodka (or whipped cream vodka) over ice, fill with Holiday Creamy Vanilla Coke, and top with homemade vanilla cold foam (heavy cream frothed with vanilla syrup).
These are the Christmas treats you are looking for. Overall, I’d give Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla an 8 out of 10 on its own. As a Christmasy drink, though? The presentation strikes me as a little bland, and it doesn’t taste all that Yuletidish to me. Let’s wait and see what the rest of the season has to serve up.
