Continuing our look at the Jones Soda Holiday collection for 2006, it's another one of the flavors released in classic 4-Packs: Candy Cane Soda.
This drink is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, unlike the traditional Holiday Pack flavors, which tend to use artificial sweeteners. The obvious reaction when one sees a bottle of Candy Cane Soda is that it's very… pink!
Photo #6855 by Jessi Donaldson, Saint Paul, MN
(What, you don't live in Florida?)
The hue reminds one of 7Up Plus: Cherry, which didn't taste very good, but looked nice with its reddish-pink color.
Photo #6854 by Emily, Santa Cruz, CA
(I wonder if this is crazy Emily in the photo?)
When you first smell the drink, however, there's a distinct medicinal overtone. It's not very attractive. I mean, who really wants to drink something that smells like cough syrup? That's exactly the impression that one gets with Candy Cane Soda as you raise the bottle to your mouth.
As for the taste? While not bile-inducing like Turkey & Gravy Soda, it was not pleasant. You know when you go to the dentist and they clean your teeth with something on the automatic brush-thing that is somewhat pepperminty in flavor? Yeah, Candy Cane Soda is the liquid form of that. Throw in an aftertaste that really sticks with you and one wonders what Jones was thinking with this flavor.
For those wondering about the nutritional information and ingredient breakdown, here's the scoop:
Nutrition Facts: Calories – 180, Sodium – 35 mg, Total Carbohydrate – 45 g, Sugars – 45 g
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (as preservatives), Acacia Gum, Citric Acid, Medium Chain Triglyceride, Red 40.
Candy Cane Soda had a lot of potential, as the idea of a mint-flavored drink has been done elsewhere, typically not in the United States. Drinks like Sprite Ice has brought a light mint beverage to market with notable success. Candy Cane Soda, however, is that not drink.
[...] on last year's review, it was not received with positively. An excerpt: While not bile-inducing like Turkey & Gravy [...]