I can’t believe that this is happening again.
Why me?
It is becoming more and more clear, that I must have a target painted on my chest that says, “hey Coca-Cola, feel free to fire at will.”.
Alas, unfortunately, what I speak of is not the first betrayal of my trust in tasty beverages. Coke has forsaken me in the past, and now, they have come back to re-open the wound. Although, it appears that this time, they seek to leave a permanent aching scar. This begs me again to ask, why, Coke, why do you do this to me?
To begin, we should probably reminisce for a moment, to gain a little perspective into the past betrayal I have fallen victim to. Back in November of 2005, I read that Diet Coke Vanilla, the tastiest tasty beverage in the world, was being phased out, to be replaced (as if) by Diet Black Cherry Vanilla. I was so devastated and hurt, that I wrote Coke a letter. My cries went unheard, and my pleas went unanswered. When Coke continued twisting the knife in my gut, I finally conceded defeat, and gave in to their demands; I bid farewell to my faithful friend, Diet Vanilla Coke. Fortunately, the wound healed, as Diet Black Cherry Vanilla proved to be an adequate, although definitely subordinate, replacement. Diet Black Cherry Vanilla was like a bandage on my wound (a second love, if you will), and over the years, it has truly healed, and I finally felt whole again.
I honestly thought, that I was on a plateau again. I could smell the flowers, breathe the air in peace, and enjoy tasty beverages again. I was me again. My faith in Coca-Cola was restored, and it showed me, that they had never truly left me, even though they had to hurt me in the process of showing me. But, I never expected, that again, we would be heading down this dark road. I never thought that Coca-Cola would stoop that low again, especially after I have proven time and again, that yes, I am loyal. Yes. I will stay. Yes. I do love you, Coke.
But I sit here, with a tear in my eye, to tell you, that a dark day has come once again. Three little words that should have meant excitement and the potential return of an old friend have left bitter feelings of betrayal once again: Vanilla Coke Zero. At first, I thought this was a new dawn for my old friend. A new, fresh start, in a place where I could proclaim my love openly and freely again, without fear of retribution. I hoped that I could once again frolic with my long lost tasty pal, Diet Vanilla Coke, but this time, it would have a new name, and a new look; but underneath have the same heart and soul that I had fallen in love with so long ago.
When I first saw the case of Vanilla Coke Zero, I gasped. It was like seeing an old friend after years of being apart. I couldn’t speak. I just stood there, welling up with excitement; this was going to be a good day. I could feel it. It wasn’t even on sale, but that didn’t stop me. I bought a case, put it in my car, and knew I was bringing an old friend home again. When I got there, I unloaded the car, and brought my friend inside, and made it comfortable amongst the other refrigerated items. The anticipation was very high, but I knew it was going to be worth it.
Several hours later, I was finally ready to be reacquainted with my old friend, and anxiously, I reached for a can. This was the time, I thought to myself. This is it. My hand was shaking as I popped the top, and in an instant, a sweet nectar was flowing from the can.
But what I felt wasn’t relief. It wasn’t a sense of togetherness, and reunion. It was a taste I had tasted before; the bitterness of betrayal. Only, this time, there was no light at the end of the tunnel. This “replacement” was no formidable, nor acceptable, equivalent to my new friend, Diet Black Cherry Vanilla. This new stranger was no friend at all. It was all a lie.
I asked myself, where was the vanilla flavor, the flavor that had gotten me through many nights of studying in grad school? Where was the sweet deliciousness that had quenched my thirst on many a hot Atlanta summer’s eve? Where was my desire that I had been longing for all these years? And perhaps most of all, I wondered, why would Coca-Cola give me false hope that they were bringing back a first love, when it was all a lie, and to make it worse, this new “beverage” will take away the new love too? I feel so alone.
The answers I seek are tragically simple. My love is lost. Forgotten. Tossed aside, and buried. Coca-cola has truly shit on our friendship. They have shown me that loyalty does not equal trust. Loyalty will be rewarded with second-rate less-than-tasty beverages that will phase out even your new friends, the friends that helped you recover after last time. Loyalty means nothing. And that truly hurts.
I can only hope, even though it is a small amount of hope, that Coca-Cola is still working towards perfecting this recipe, and that future shipments will contain more deliciously tasty vanilla flavor; because even through the cynical callous that has become my tastebuds, I can tell that there is at least a hint of it there. They want it to be there; even the name suggests that this is so. I, of course, want it to be there too. I can only hope, that it will be in the future.
Coca-Cola, listen to me, I beg you. Please. Please do not disappoint me, after this, your second betrayal. Please, send forth an adequate replacement for my new friend, who tried its best to replace my one true love. Please, for the sake of my tasty beverage enjoyment, think of us, those that provide you with the loyalty and brand recognition you desire, and give us what we need; a tasty, calorie free, truely vanilla coke. I pray my cries will be heard. But alas, at this moment, I am bewildered, lost, and afraid. I can only hope that the future will hold good things, but only time will tell. Only you have the power to truly fix this situation, and I will just have to wait and see if you will.
Yes, only time will tell.
Duane… seriously.
Have you ever tried buying Vanilla Syrup? You know, like the stuff they use at Waffle House? I could live off of Waffle House’s Diet Cherry Coke (or Steak & Shake or wherever else they use the syrup stuff).
OMG!! Like you, I LOVED Vanilla & Diet Vanilla Coke.. I was truly devastated when it was discontinued. I haven’t even seen Vanilla Coke Zero, but really, truly.. is it not as good?
You know what’s a good substitute for Vanilla Coke? Coke and Stoli Vanilla.
I can’t believe you wrote that long of a post about Vanilla Coke Zero. Wow.
The “Zero” line of Coke products is not supposed to taste like Diet Coke. It’s supposed to taste like regular Coca-Cola but without the calories. Regardless of how much vanilla syrup they add to Coke Zero, it will never taste like Vanilla Diet Coke.
I am here to pretty much eccho what dpb said. The zero and diet lines are completely different. They are not supposed to taste the same(thankfully).
Coke Zero tastes like ass, man… Always has, always will
Ya’ll know this was meant to be funny, right?
Audacity, I am SO with you on the vanilla vodka and diet coke. YUM!
Also, Dave (and joey), interesting theory. I say theory, because Sprite, Cherry Coke, and Orange Fanta all switched their names from Diet to Zero, and they all used the same formula, because they taste the exact same. I think that Coke is trying to be more savvy, taking out the word Diet, which they will obviously keep for their flagship Diet Coke. I agree that Coke Zero is supposed to taste like Coke without the calories, but given the trend of the other diets that went zero, I was kind of expecting vanilla to follow the trend. Additionally, if you are replacing a diet soda with a zero one (again, all of the other ones haven’t changed), it should at least taste somewhat like what you are replacing; I didn’t taste any vanilla flavor at all.
Diet Pepsi Vanilla all the way!
I am still mad at the absense of Coke Lime. I think they even had diet coke lime. And it never occured to me to just buy a lime and squeeze it into my coke. I must have a thick head.
doug, they still have it here in ATL. I think that it tastes like it has vodka in it, though.
Sugar free syrups… http://kmb-enterprises.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=singlesyrup&Category_Code=DSS
I -would- buy the sugar free Cherry… but we don’t ever keep Diet Cokes in the house. I love my Crystal Light and Sugar Free Kool Aid though!
duane, not for much longer.
No matter what everyone tells me I can’t taste much difference between Diet Coke and Coke Zero. They both taste revolting to me out of the can. The only way I can drink Diet Coke is with a meal at a restaurant, in a glass with lots of ice. Maybe it tastes different out of a fountain, or maybe it’s psychological. Almost any other diet soda I like but the colas just don’t do it for me. Having said that, I liked Diet Coke Vanilla more than the regular one which was just too sweet.
Have you tried Diet Coke Plus? Maybe the added vitamins and minerals will help counteract the carcinogens in the sweeteners.
I have tried Diet Coke Plus, it leaves a gross metallic aftertaste! Ew!
I hate Coke and Diet Coke, but enjoy Coke Zero. I am the only person I know who likes Zero.
I loved Diet Vanilla Coke. I had to switch to cherry vanilla diet Dr. Pepper (really good). If you put Capt. Morgan’s spiced rum in any of the diet coke (or zero) products, they taste great!
oh…is that 12-step meeting starting *now*?
Whatever happpened to C2 from Coke…that wasn’t too bad (although it had about 70 calories per can).
Coke plus sucks…I gave my remaining 12 pack to James!!!!
Look on the bright side. At least you didn’t drink a can of Coke Blak. That shit tastes like death.
I just heard that the artificial sweetners in Diet drinks are as tough on your liver as drinking an alcoholic beverage! Might as well have a Guinness!
otterlpb, when heated to 98 degrees Fahrenheit (body heat), aspartame, the artificial sweetner that makes Diet Coke oh so delicious, turns into fermaldehide. I’m not sure what the effects of fermaldehide on the innards of your body pre-morterm but there are several sites dedicated to just that… most are symptoms similar to MS. Fun times… I’m banking on the fact we’ll have cures for all that by the time the symptoms hit me.
Duane,
You wrote the post that expressed EXACTLY how I feel. I recently wrote a review of Diet Coke Plus, where I included my tribute to the greatest Diet Coke ever… Diet Vanilla Coke.
I have not tried Vanilla Coke Zero… but when I heard they launched it, I couldn’t believe it. Despair.
Oh well. Thanks for the great post.
Adam
I’m with you, Duane. I was hoping for my diet vanilla coke…Vanilla Coke Zero is NOT it. I have a whole 12 pack I’m hoping someone else will drink.
I was so excited to see in the grocery store today COKE VANILLA that I had to stroll down the aisle to look in earnest for DIET VANILLA COKE but to no avail. After doing some web surfing I found out they are only going to release VANILLA COKE ZERO, I’m so disappointed. I have found that the Diet Cherry Vanilla Coke was too much cherry for my vanilla taste so I switched to DIet A&W Creme Soda and it takes care of my vanilla fix (which my kids refer to as my “crack” HA HA). I’m not sure I want to even try Vanilla COke Zero now after reading all of your comments!
I am so with you. I loved, loved Diet Vanilla Coke. I bought 10 cases when I found out it was going out. Drank one taste of Diet Black and Cherry and Vanilla and who knows what else. I can’t get my town grocer to carry Coke Big Zero Vanilla, even though our state Coke distributor is in our town. My whole kitchen is Coca-cola, dishes and everything. What is up Atlanta?
Same thing here. Loved Diet Vanilla Coke & switched to Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke. Now that is discontinued too. I haven’t figured out what to replace it with, but I sure wish they would bring back Diet Vanilla Coke.
I went in serious depression when they discontinued Diet Vanilla Coke. Hated Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke (can you say cough syrup?) and finally settled for Diet Vanilla Pepsi even though it was sub-par. At least Pepsi didn’t betray me. But wait, They discontinued Diet Vanilla Pepsi and are bringing back Diet Vanilla Coke in the form of Vanilla Coke Zero? What joy! Only I just bought my first one and took a sip.
Not the same.
Not the same at all.
I don’t think I even like it.
The whole thing is seriously making me consider going back to drinking plain old H-2-O.
try A&W Diet Creme Soda — it’s pretty tasty!
I thought I was the only one who loved Diet Vanilla Coke so much, since it was so quickly taken away!!! I was led to believe that I was the only one buying it! Seriously, I was at the grocery store with my 7 year old daughter. She wanted to buy some, and I had to break the news to her that it was discontinued. I’m not lying when I tell you she sobbed uncontrollably throughout the next 5 aisles! Oh, the looks I got from the other shoppers, but I knew I couldn’t even try to explain it! Just a couple of days ago, I did try the Coke Zero Vanilla and was so disappointed. I’m just glad I didn’t buy a whole 12 pack! So sad. . .
It’s good to see I am not alone!! Thanks for your responses everyone!
I’m another one who was disappointed when Diet Vanilla Coke was discontinued. When I found out it was to be discontinued, I drove to grocery stores all over town to purchase the remaining stock that they had left. I also sent e-mails to Coke. I eventually switched to Black Cherry Vanilla Coke after trying other substitutes that didn’t measure up, but eventually gave up Coke altogether. Yesterday, I went to the grocery store, and by chance, saw the Diet Vanilla Coke Zero. I almost bought it, but didn’t because I wasn’t sure that I wanted to get hooked again. Now, after reading all of the comments, I think that I made the right decision.
Oh, just to know that I’m not alone!! I, too, was devastated at the discontinuance of my diet vanilla coke. Betrayed and forced to switch to diet black cherry vanilla (not as good, but enough to get me by). After my taste buds began thinking all was once again well, betrayed again!!! I sent letters to Coke, expressing my grief. Weeks later, shopping in the market … ah ha!! Diet Vanilla Coke Zero. Definitely not as good as my old friend, but I figure it’s better than nothing. I personally think Coke zero isn’t doing so well, so they figured shooting some vanilla in there would grab all of us faithful and disappointed diet vanilla coke fans … time to write another letter.
all the zero products — coke, cherry and vanilla — taste like the ghost of the shadow of the faded image of both the regular and the diet cokes. at best they remind me of the regular product gone flat. what a shame. i wish they would leave well enough alone.
I loved the Diet Vanilla Coke, then they discontinued it.
When I learned to like Black Cherry Vanilla Diet Coke, they discontinued that.
I like Zero OK, so I was happy to see Vanilla Zero. Now, it’s also been discontinued.
It’s not real handy to carry around a bottle of vanilla syrup in the car to mix drinks, if you know what I mean.
say what, how did you come upon the Vanilla Zero knowledge? I just started to pseudo like it….after getting used to the syrupy Coke taste versus Diet Coke taste.
Duane, I loved your letter,it hit me 2 weeks ago that I couldn’t find Vanilla Coke in large bottles and now the cans are starting to disapear. I went out yesterday and bought as much as I could find and going out again today. I wish the iddiots at Coke would just leave things like they are lol
This is so funny because I, too, was almost depressive when they discontinued Diet Vanilla Coke. I never tried Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke, however. I refused to try anything else and I patiently waited for Diet Vanilla Coke to come back. I saw Vanilla Coke Zero and I bouth a box, very excited, and opened a can as soon as it got cold. It definitely does not taste the same, but it’s something after so much waiting… I miss the true vanilla taste blended into the true diet coke taste…
it’s good to see that i’m not the only one who went into mourning when diet vanilla coke went away. i recall trying regular vanilla coke for the first time, and how luscious it was. and diet vanilla coke…even better! i was hooked, knocking back a good 2 liter bottle a day of that stuff. and life was good.
but then it vanished as suddenly as it came and all the replacements have been lacking. diet black cherry vanilla coke? eww. the dr pepper vanilla diet variant…not great. diet pepsi vanilla…good…very good…but also hard to find in satisfying quantities.
and then came diet vanilla zero. hmmm, i’m thinking it’s a worthy successor to the original. a more subtle vanilla, to be sure, but still quite quaffable.
i was never able to understand why they took the original away, though. half the time i went to the store it was sold out, while legions of diet lime coke bottles sat on the shelves. what’s their argument - they weren’t able to sell enough because the stores couldn’t keep it on the shelf?
i still pine for the days of diet vanilla coke though.
Is zero vanilla discontinued?
It is better than nothing..
Forget the vanillam, forget the cherriies. Why not make a Coke that taste like a Rum and Coke? Either diet or regular.
I didn’t realize that Vanilla Coke was discontinued. I kept looking for it, but couldn’t find it. Now I know the shocking truth. I can get Vanilla Coke at Denny’s still so that’s some relief. I live in Canada so I have yet to taste Vanilla Coke zero. What is it about Coke though? I also feel as if I am target for their advertising. Could it be all the Michael Jackson advertising sticking with me from the 80’s? I don’t know, but every time I see someone drinking one… I just gotta have one too.
Dear Duane, I know you are kidding, but your feelings must be coming from somewhere and I see a grain of truth in there. And you know what, I feel the exact same way! I too went through the ups and downs of Diet Vanilla Coke, Black Cherry Vanilla Coke etc. I think Coke is run my evil aliens trying to mess with our minds!!!!!!
I too am A Diet Vanilla Coke Fan!! It was the all time BEST!! When it was discontinued I was let’s just say really really mad. It made no sense at all. When Coke Zero Vanilla came out I was estatic! Then as you, I was crushed when it became harder and harder to find (in the 20 ounce bottle - which is the first to go). I can still get it in the 20 pack cans (for NOW) and I have one every night for dinner. I just love the stuff. I too CALLED Coke and was told that the Coke Zero was not selling enough in my area and therefore they had to destroy it. Is this the craziest bull you’ve ever heard. They had cases and cases of this lovely drink and they did nothing but destroy it because according to their statistics it wasn’t selling enough in the PA, VA, MD & NJ areas. That is such crap because it is always sold out in my area every week. So who is buying it then and doesn’t it matter that some people like it. Who the hell drinks Diet Coke with Lime but that doesn’t go anywhere does it!!! I say BRING BACK OUR COKE ZERO VANILLA in CANS AND BOTTLES and LEAVE US ALONE!!
I love the original vannila coke, thats the best by far, i’m in the uk and really miss it
I actually preferred the Vanilla Zero to the original Diet Vanilla, but I appear to be in the minority. Now they’re both apparently gone. Also miss the C2 & Lime/Diet Lime/Diet Lemon varieties. D’OH! As for the formaldehyde unleashed by body heat in diet sweeteners blowing up my liver over the long term and causing MS-like symptoms, it still beats P*psi, but then again, name something on this Earth– other than perhaps genocide– which doesn’t.
I freaking love Vanilla Coke Zero and it is disappearing from the shelves in Western NY. I’m in a state of panic.
Thank God I found coca-cola maniacs as me ! Please, please, please can you tell me where can I find coca-cola vanilla or vanilla coke zero ??? I am in Greece and I cant find nothing at all
So what is it….I do find some fridge packs of coke zero vanilla but haven’t seen a 2 liter bottle well since last November (which was about 2 months after they first introduced it)…is it still being made?
They kept an idiotic drink such as diet coks with slime for a long while…they didn’t give it a chance.
Now I am also beginning to find it difficult to find coke zero cherry in 2 liter bottles…periodically I find some…is that being discontinued also?
Who can I speak to at CCE to find out what the hell is going on and who are making these idiotic decisions.
When Vanilla & Vanilla Zero came out, the 2Ls (esp of V Zero) were FLYING off the shelves around here on Wrong Island…then they were apparently never restocked (WTF!?!). I’d damn-near live on Vanilla Zero 1.5 & 2Ls if they were around. Hardly ever even see a 12-pack of cans! Anyone at CCE or the CC Bottling Co of NY listening??
YOU are CRAZY!!! Coke Zero Vanilla is awesome!!! I’m searching like a mad woman to find it b/c all of a sudden it’s disappeared off the selves
It taste like cream soda to me & it’s just FABULOUS!
The grocery store where I buy coke zero vanilla hadn’t got a shipment in 6 weeks. The clerk will call on Monday, because she thinks that maybe they stopped making it. Has anyone heard anything about that?
It would be awful!!! I haven’t seen Diet Pepsi Vanilla, so this would be really bad.
Diet P-word Vanilla!?! Yikes! I shudder to even think about what a diet version (with “vanilla” flavor no less) would taste like when based on a carbonated form of urinal-cake-flavored Scope with caramel coloring. (Oops, I just gave away P-word’s secret recipe…) Yeesh!
That said, Vanilla Zero is the nectar of the gods (Bottle the damn stuff again!). Along with the orig REAL Classic (with real-deal SUCROSE SUGAR not HFCS). And reg Vanilla…
They stopped making Coca Cola Zero Vanilla.
Fuck me!!!
I just got back from Walmart, Walgreens, Aldi, K-Mart and Piggly Wiggly. None of these stores had Vanilla Zero Cokes in stock. For the past several weeks, I wasn’t able to find my FAVORITE diet drink anywhere, thinking that they were just sold out. I should have known I smelled a rat. I finally find a diet drink that I absolutely loved, and now, I hear that it’s being discontinued. I know that I will never find a better diet drink. I hope that you will somehow continue to sell my vanilla zero coke again soon. I do love the regular vanilla coke as well, but, am trying to avoid so much sugar.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO MAKE VANILLA ZERO!