Coca Cola has come along way from its humble beginnings; it’s nearly 120 years old. First invented in 1886 by Dr John S Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia, it first averaged sales of 9 drinks a day which when you compare it with over a billion worldwide today shows how popular it has become. The diet coke version has 21% share of the low-calorie soft drink market. It has seen many changes along the way with the introduction of different varieties, including this one.

I am not a great fan of fizzy drinks and usually buy a bottle of water when I’m out but being the weekend, I had the kids in tow and as usual they were thirsty and hungry (usually by the time we get to the bus stop), so I told them if they behaved they could get a couple of packets of sweeties and a drink. I had never heard of a vanilla flavoured diet coke but then I usually drink shop brand cola (with vodka of course) but had given into kiddie pressure to buy this one, we got a 500ml bottle for around 80p. After helping them to eat their dolly mixtures and jelly babies I had became quite thirsty myself and reluctantly had a sip of this coke (because I didn’t have enough money left for my bottle of water). I was very pleasantly surprised.

Have you ever tasted a Coke Float, you know that gorgeous combination of ice cold coke with a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream plonked on the top?

You haven’t, go on, run to your fridge and freezer and make one, I dare you to enjoy the foaming bubbly concoction that fizzes right up the glass and starts to foam over the edge like a mini volcano erupting slowly. If you have had one you will know how scrummy they taste, they taste exactly like Diet Coke Vanilla. With this version though you get all the taste but none of the mess associated with the ‘real’ one. They tend to leave a scummy residue in the glass, which if you don’t wash straight away is a bugger to clean, makes you wonder what they do to your insides doesn’t it?

The contents are in a plastic bottle with a silver label on it with the usual Coca-Cola script but with a background of vanilla and red coloured swirls. It says on the label that it is best served cold, and that it is a low calorie soft drink with vegetable extracts with vanilla flavouring and sweeteners. I always imagine that when a product says vegetable extracts that you will find a couple of carrots and a few peas floating in it, luckily I didn’t find any.

This product is rather sweet but I don’t think it is too sweet, usually after a few mouthfuls of diet coke I feel slightly sick (unless it is diluted with vodka) but I think the inclusion of the vanilla flavouring lifts it. This is one branded drink I would certainly purchase again as the whole family enjoyed it.