Long Gone Sodas - Sodas that Fizzled Out Just in Time

Pepsi Kona

I can just imagine the brainstorming session on this one. Early one morning Pepsi-co gathers together its top developers to throw ideas around about a new drink. Half the table is drinking coffee, half Pepsi, all half-asleep. In a moment of sleep deprived delirium, one of the developers, his exhaustion blurring his vision, sees the two drinks meld together. "Pepsi coffee," he yawns. The president of Pepsi-co, often stressed by his morning decision between coffee and Pepsi, declares him a genius, promotes him, and leads him out of the conference room to a standing ovation by Pepsi staff.

Ok, ridiculous perhaps, but so is the idea of coffee-flavored Pepsi. At least the vanilla, lemon and lime additives I can understand (in concept), but coffee? I've never stared at my morning cup and said to myself, "Hmm, you know what would make this taste better? Some soda!" Luckily this product lasted only about as long as the caffeine jitters and was pulled from shelves in 1996. However, a similarly flavored product has emerged in the past year from one of Pepsi's rival companies. What is it they say about learning from other's mistakes (Coca-Cola Blak, I'm looking at you).

Coke with Lemon

At least this one's logical. Coke, especially diet coke, is often paired with lemon in restaurants and in mixed drinks. However, what Coca-Cola didn't advertise is that Coke with Lemon actually tasted a lot like Coke with Windex. The chemical aftertaste of this version of the soda turned off many consumers and led to its discontinuation in 2005. However, if you're still looking for that citrus punch, Coke with Lime (which doesn't taste quite so artificial...if that makes sense when talking about soda...) is still widely available.

Orbitz