Product Review: Coca-Cola's Holiday Creamy Vanilla

While we were visiting family in Utah recently, my husband made a rare solo trip to the store and came back with a single 20 oz bottle of Coca-Cola’s Holiday Creamy Vanilla. We decided to collectively try it out and give it a review. And one evening over homemade chicken enchiladas and guacamole, we did just that…

Here are my thoughts.

The label itself is very visually appealing and I found myself thinking about the image days before we ever tasted the beverage. I guess it is true we “[drink] with our eyes first”!

The colors evoke a feeling of nostalgia and foreshadow the “creamy” taste with the image of an ice cream swirl. The muted tones of the iconic “Coca-Cola” signature swoosh also create the expectation of a softer hit to the taste buds.

Once poured, fizzy sparkles of soda leapt into the air above the glass hitting my nose as I took an initial sniff before sipping. I was expecting the very chemical taste of the previous vanilla product. Being a fan of real vanilla syrup, I’m never satisfied with the harsh artificial taste so often found in bottled and canned beverages.

This first sip, however, surprised me with its mellow creamy taste, followed by a subtle hint of vanilla. From the sounds around me, I knew my family was enjoying it too!

“Mm, this is actually good!”

“Wow, I really like this!”

“Do you think you’ll buy a 12 pack for over Christmas?”

Yes, I will buy a 12 pack over Christmas because this is a flavor I look forward to savoring while decorating the tree, watching Christmas movies, and unwrapping presents.

Definitely the taste of a holiday in a bottle!