As your responsible former Heaven’s Metal and HM Magazine editor, I feel obligated to review this new/old (which is it?) cola from Pepsi Cola. What is this stuff? Why the slender can? What’s up with the historic 1893 date? Why? What? How?
I was introduced to this new brand of soda via a television commercial with a man sitting in a comfortable sofa chair, instructing other tasters on how to truly taste this new soda drink. After swirling and sniffing it, he guzzles the drink as if overcome by the awesome taste. He then takes a glass from one of the other tasters and does the same with their drink. The name and the vague description left me wondering — and wanting to try it. I’d call that effective marketing. I kept looking for it in stores ever since. I finally found a single can for sale near the checkout of my local Walmart last night. That’s right, I was shopping at a Walmart late at night (well after midnight, after seeing One Bad Pig show that they still had plenty of music left in their tank).
After plunking down $1.28, the experiment was on. I waited until the next day before I tried it. After all, I wanted my palette to be nice and fresh before embarking on such an important taste experiment.
A little more background:
Pepsi was created in 1893. Apparently it was first called Brad’s Drink and it was sold at Caleb Bradham’s drugstore in New Bern, North Carolina. Eventually the soda was renamed Pepsi Cola , presumably after two of its ingredients — pepsin and the kola nut. The drink is now world famous and popular among young and old for its sweet and unique taste.
If you had to generalize soda sales and popularity, you could probably divide cola into two distinct camps: Coke vs. Pepsi. I’ve always enjoyed both Coke and Pepsi and even their competitor — Royal Crown Cola (aka RC), which I always thought had a taste with a sweetness factor right between the two. I’d rank Shasta Cola as being fairly similar to the RC taste. When Coke changed its formula to New Coke in the 90s, they went to the sweetness level of these two drinks (in my opinion). The public outcry quickly led to the “re-” introduction of Classic Coke, which sold alongside New Coke for a time. Some claim it was a publicity stunt all along, with New Coke launching just to cause the hope-for reaction calling for the Coke the public had grown to love back for good.
Did you ever drink Clear Pepsi? Boy, was that trend short lived!
I have other questions about this new version of Pepsi. Apparently the name 1893 is a nod to the origins of the drink, implying that they were going back to the original formula with real sugar and such. The use of “real sugar” has become a popular trend as of late. Many people love to buy what is called “Mexican Coke,” because they use pure cane sugar instead of the high-fructose corn syrup they use here in the United States.
The marketing copy for 1893 Pepsi hints towards a mingling of history and new innovation:
1893 from the makers of Pepsi-Cola is rewriting the history of refreshment with a bold combination of kola nuts, real sugar and sparkling water to deliver a totally unexpected cola experience.
See what I mean? They’re not claiming to be returning to the original formula, but they’re leaning heavily on history in their promotion. By using the tall and skinny can, they are mimicking the popular (8 oz.) size of Red Bull, which may be America’s most popular energy drink. This might be another way to justify charging a higher price. I’m not convinced that popular energy drinks are worth the price most retailers charge (between $1.50 and $2), but the idea that what’s inside is special and valuable has apparently gone over well enough to justify keeping their prices astronomically high (in my opinion).
Pepsi is also possibly cashing in on another popular trend — mixology. Alcohol is huge today and its consumption has made a huge comeback. The 1893 Ginger Cola may be purposeful player for this growing market. It’s probably no small marketing/packaging accident that they went about getting the Free Trade Certified logo on its cans (for that imported sugar).
Now it’s time for the taste test. I anxiously pried open this can, hearing the familiar crack and fizz sound of liberating the carbonated beverage from its aluminum prison. I was enjoying some pork tenderloin with carrots, potatoes and gravy, just in case you’re wondering. This — tastes — like — the store brand colas I would sometimes drink as a youth.
Did your mom ever buy a case of the Safeway brand cola to serve refreshments after your youth baseball or soccer game? What about the Sam’s Club brand? Winn Dixie? Village Park? H-E-B Original Cola? You know the knock-off flavors I’m talking about, don’t you? Regional grocery store chains try to mimic the flavor of Coke or Pepsi and usually hit right down the middle with a Shasta/RC sweetness flavor. There’s a caramel and a cola taste that seems to overpower the sugary sweet. Some sodas almost taste a little peppery when it comes to the “generic cola” flavor.
I wasn’t expecting this taste. I think I was expecting more of the sweetness that Pepsi is known for. I like it, but I’d prefer a zero-calorie version, thank you very much.
Next, I suppose I’ll have to try the 1893 Ginger Cola flavor. Any other suggestions?
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