Bottles in a Museum

2015 marks the 100 year anniversary of something special in the soda world. Do you know what it is? It is the iconic Coca-Cola bottle! That's right. The curvy, attractive bottle was released in 1915. This is kind of a big deal. At least, it is a big enough deal for the High Museum of Art in Atlanta to dedicate a huge exhibit towards the bottle!

The Real Bottle Deal

If I lived closer, I would go check it out! (And for the record, soda didn't start coming in cans until after 1935. We will have to wait for that centennial event.)

Pepsi at the Big Concerts

Pepsi is just swaggering it's gorilla way all over Coca-Cola's turf. I shared recently how Pepsi took the lucrative NBA sponsorship away from Coke. Now, Pepsi just took away a host of music festivals. Live Nation is an organization that organizes some of the most popular concerts in the nation. 75 of these concerts will now carry exclusively Pepsi and not Coke.

Pepsi Dragonfruit X from 2013. Because, you know, Pepsi
is taking over new territory like a dragon!

I don't really begrudge the move. A large bunch of moshing and hollering young adults certainly does better fit with Pepsi's marketing image. Coca-Cola still has the warm and fuzzy Olympics, and I doubt they will ever let that go. Now that Pepsi sponsors these musical festivals, let's hope they release limited edition cans at each one. That might actually give me a reason to go.

Grape, Diet, Cherry Dr. Pepper

The wife is going away this Friday night and later this weekend. This left me to stock up on some soda cans for me and the boys. I found the Diet Dr. Pepper Avenger cans and the Cherry Dr. Pepper ones. Also, we got the generic grape since it's caffeine free for those movie nights! (It's Wal-Mart Grape, and I love the simplicity of just plastering the type of soda right on the can. No frills.)

As a side note, the Cherry box is ripped because I dropped it in my hustle to carry it to the register on my lunch break. I was going to replace it, but it was the only Avengers Cherry Dr. Pepper left in the store. So I settled for the broken box. The cans are worth it.

Artisan Sodas

The soda industry is always trying to look towards the future. (Heck, every any business worth its fructose syrup should do that.) However, people say the future for the soda industry is dim. I disagree. I think it will be changing. I just learned that Pepsi is already trying to shift the focus of soda from a casual lunch drink towards an upscale indulgence you want to enjoy on those special days. How? They are taking a lesson from craft beer.

Concern that Wild Cherry Pepsi Just Isn't Arty Enough Anymore

That's right. Pepsi has made Caleb's Kola to be sold exclusively at Costco. It's kind of a rival to the popular Mexican Coke, a coke made with real sugar and packed in real glass bottles. Executives are hoping people will reach for this and similar artisan creations when they want a soda. It might work. However, it would work best for this blogger if they put Caleb's Kola into a fancy can!

Hawkeye

Hawkeye will be joing the soda can collection! Looking good, dude!

A 104-Year-Old-Superhero

In honor of our first superhero can of the year, let's take the time to get to know a real superhero. CNN reported that Elizabeth Sullivan reached the age of 104. Her secret to such superhero longevity? She claims her habit of drinking 3 Dr. Peppers a day has helped keep her alive so long!

Dr. Pepper Ironman 2015 with some of his Avenger buddies

Who knew? You can watch an interview of Elizabeth here. It's hard to deny her spunk. She doesn't even look a day over eighty! Chug those Dr. Peppers, girl!

Coke Free Courts

Coke is out of the basketball business. That's right, Sprite. No more shall we obey our thirsts with you on the B-ball courts. Pepsi outbid Coca-Cola for a lucrative contract to be the official soft drink of the NBA. That's a quite a change after 25 years of Coke on the courts.

Guess what flagship Pepsi product will be the new face of the NBA? It's certainly not Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash. It's Mt. Dew. This means we can probably start looking for Mt. Dew NBA cans next year. It also might make my LeBron James Sprite can go up in a value just a smidgen.

Classy Cans in a Scare Ad

If you read my blog, you know how I feel about all of the soda-phobia hype. Yes, it's not the best for you. But it just tastes so good. (Except Diet Dr. Pepper. Mr. Gump's beverage of choice absolutely crushes it. Dr. Pepper 10 does a good job though.) Scrolling through social media, I came across the latest soda-scare ad. I didn't get mad though. I was too impressed with all of those VINTAGE soda cans. Take a peek!

You can't get those sweet cans anymore! I believe they are all from the mid to late 00s. Also, you should know that Diet Soda sales are going down. The reason? Ads like the one above work. But people still buy soda. They just buy the full flavor versions as the real treat. Instead of having a Diet soda a day, folks are aiming for the pure version once a week. Makes sense. Still, I have no problem having several diet drinks a week if it suits me. I need the cans.

Dr. Pepper Brings the Collecting Bling

So I was prepared to let my last post stand as a notice that I would probably be on blogging hiatus for a while. And then my wife brought this home...

Yup. It's a 24 pack Dr. Pepper case showcasing the upcoming Avengers movie. I found this interesting because the packaging is blatantly encouraging soda can collecting. You clearly see there are seven cans and what each one looks like. It's like they are catering just to me and my fellow collectors!

Over a year ago, I corresponded with a collector and discussed this topic a little bit. There were often soda can sets, but it seemed the companies did little to advertise the virtues of actually collecting the cans. It seems we might have turned a corner. Each can even has the collection number on it.

Will CansintheBasement be able to get all seven of them in the Basement? We'll see!

Update

Hi Soda Fans!

I certainly haven't been posting for a while! Life gets busy, but please know lots of cans have been added to the basement. Hopefully, things will slow down in a couple of months. I look forward to sharing more great soda news and soda can pics with you soon. Until then, may all your drinks be syrupy, carbonated, and delicious!

-CansintheBasement

Coke Kills Voice Mail

I suppose you don't always think about Coca-Cola being a "cutting-edge" company. We usually reserve software and technology companies for that label. Coca-Cola is all about doing things consistently and cranking out an iconic product day after day. Not anymore.

Coca-Cola just launch a human resources initiative that kills voice mail. That's right, Coca-Cola employees will no longer be able to use voice mail. The reason is because it's just so darn time consuming, and frankly, nobody of any real efficiency uses it anyway. I personally think it's a great idea. I never use my own voice mail anyway. Text me, or I will just call when I see I missed your call. It's also a sign of the Millennial Generation, all 83 million strong, slowly starting to take over the American workplace. These are young adults, the oldest around 31 now, who were raised on technology, the internet, and a multi-tasking mentality. This generation's first representative to Congress was recently elected (she's a Republican, by the way), and they are now making Hyundai commercials with toys from the 1980s because, well, they are the demographic buying those kind of cars now. In twenty years those same toys will be doing Cadillac commercials.

Anyway, the death of voice mail at Coca-Cola is just another victory of Millennials Rising. In time, they will crowd out those pesky Baby Boomers, one of the most polarizing and privileged generations ever. (They are the ones leading grid-locks in Congress. They are also the ones born into the most economically advantageous period ever, when well paying union jobs were available for just a high school diploma, America had no competition because WWII made all of Europe and Asia bombed out, and you could go to college for virtually nothing if you so desired. Ironically, most Boomers see to forget this when they scold jobless, debt-loaded, Twitter-fingering Millenials for being "narcissistic") And P.S. Jean M. Twenge, you are an idiot.

So check your voice mail one last time, Boomers. You're irrelevancy is fast approaching, and Coca-Cola is helping to make it happen. 

Bottle Breakdown

Some news in the soda world. So the curvy Coca-Cola bottle is iconic. It's one of those American symbols. It's right up there with Chuck Taylor basketball shoes and the Chanel No. 5 bottle. I love that Coke bottle shape and think its a great move by Coke to fiercely protect it. Even in Australia.

Not similar enough

But a judge there didn't see it my light. After a four year battle, a judge in Australia said Pepsi's similar bottle in that country isn't enough of a trademark infringement. Coca-Cola now has to shell out Pepsi's legal costs for the lawsuit. Shame. It does go to show though that imitation is the best form of flattery. Coca-Cola has always been packaged better, and Pepsi knows it.

Santa is Back!

What this guy said. Seriously. I have been thinking it for years.

Basically, this blogger points out that Santa has been absent from Coke cans for three years. 2014 finally marks the return. I noticed the dearth of Santa when I started collecting soda cans back in 2012. Here's to many more years of Santa on the cans!

Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday!

Yes, you read that title right. My wife and I are excited about both holidays. We are indeed thankful for the blessings we have in our lives, and then we go trample over people for cheap goods a mere few hours later. It's great. 

Black Friday!

Actually, we enjoy Black Friday because we love hanging out together in such a thrilling environment. Plus, we get all of our Christmas shopping done. By Sunday night, we should have all of our presents bought, wrapped, and stored in the attic until Christmas. See, we utterly desecrate the spirit of Thanksgiving so the month of Christmas can be spent in peace.

Anyway, I ran across this post from Coke last Thanksgiving all about Black Friday. My wife and I bring a little Coke for the road during our all night shopping, so I am glad Coca-Cola put this little fact sheet together. Go Coke! Coke taps into all seasons.

Doritos and Dew?

Pepsi owns Doritos. I've posted about the cross pollination between these two products before. The latest hybrid of Doritos and Pepsi involves Mt. Dew (which is Pepsi owned). Yup, we are talking about Doritos flavored Mt. Dew!

With Chips?

Don't get excited. This is just taste testing done at college campuses. But yes, there was a flavor reported to be Mt. Dewitos that tasted a little like nacho Cheese Doritos. I'll take a can of that if it ever comes out!

Turtle Power Cans

Sometimes I am just late to the soda can party. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot has already come and gone. Honestly, I never saw it, although I was mildly interested. I also didn't know that Crush soda was doing a promotion for the film.

How did I miss this?

I'm actually a little disappointed I didn't notice. I would have tried to collect the set. Instead, I ended up finding the Donatello can in a cooler at the local comic shop the other day. I shelled out a dollar for it. So I do have one. What's even more discouraging is they created a whole new flavor for Leonardo. It was Berry Punch. All the turtle flavors appear below.

Leonardo: Berry Punch

Raphael: Strawberry

Donatello: Grape

Michelangelo: Orange

April O'Neil: Pineapple

What my can looks like.

It's actually a swell promotion for Crush. The sodas match up with each turtle's eye-band color. And of course April O'Neil wears that odd yellow suit (I bet she is secretly the daughter of Curious George's dad) so her color is pineapple yellow. Pretty neat, really. And yes, as I finish typing this, I am actually feeling pretty glum about missing the boat on this. Maybe I will be able to trade for the others someday. I need to be more aware of the soda world.

Coke Wins the 2014 Elections!

If you paid attention to the 2014 midterm elections in the United States, you saw that Coca-Cola crushed the event. Yes, Coke is taking power and Pepsi is now regulated to the sidelines with a pretty much lame duck President.

Yes, I know it's really all about Republicans and Democrats and not about Coke and Pepsi. Still, I think its fair to say Coke can be a Republican symbol and Pepsi and be the Democratic one. The unofficial party colors can make a case for that. Republicans are red like Coke and Democrats are blue like Pepsi. Still not convinced? Well, I've said it before. Look at the advertising. Coca-Cola advertises old school. Coke is all about Christmas, cuddly polar bears, buying the whole darn world a Coke because its just so familiar and grand, just like the G.O.P. And Coke has Taylor Swift, a wanna-be pop star trying to "shake off" her country roots. And country music is conservative, my friends. And come on, Coke starts with a "C" just like "conservative."

Meanwhile, Pepsi is all about being hip, edgy, and on the cutting edge. Pepsi is about being you. Screw the establishment. Be an individual. A "taker" if you have to. X-Games stuff. Squat in the street in front of a corporation's high-rise and get blasted with tear gas. Go team You! And of course they have Beyonce. Forgive the stereotyping, but African Americans make up a solid base of the Democratic party. And then there is that whole new Pepsi symbol that mysteriously appeared in 2008. You know, the curvy Pepsi logo that looks an awfully lot like Obama's rising-sun-faux-agrarian campaign symbol. Yup, Pepsi is definitely Democratic.

So what does this mean? It means get ready to chug some Coke people whether you crave it out not. At the very least, all that Coke is gonna is going to at least block you from enjoying a Pepsi from the the White House anytime soon.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Cans in the Basement!

All Halloween Cans Brought Up From 'Da Basement

Pepsi and Coke Skirmish on Halloween

Pepsi and Coke slugged it out with a Halloween ad recently. Pepsi released an ad of a can of Pepsi dressed with a Coca-Cola cape as a costume. The caption read, "We wish you a scary Halloween!" Implying, I suppose, that Coca-Cola is scary, especially when it is a Pepsi that you want.

Hallow-Soda Wars

Not one to be bullied, Coca-Cola responded with the same ad. They only changed the caption to read, "Everyone wants to be a hero." Obviously, this implies that Pepsi only wishes it could be as awesome as Coke. Epic.

Jones Hallow-Three

As promised, the third 2013 Halloween Jones Soda Can.  This one looks particulary grisly with a zombie eyeball plunging towards the table.  The flavor is carmel apple.  Tasty.

2013 Caramel Apple Jones Halloween Soda Can

Critical Soda Fact Number 3

My whole philosophy of soda can be summed up in the following quote by American pop artist Andy Warhol.

"What's great about this country is that American started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same thing as the poorest.  You can be watching TV and see Coca Cola, and you know that the President drinks Coca Cola, Liz Taylor drinks Coca-Cola, and just think, you can drink Coca Cola, too.  A coke is a coke and no amount of money can get you a better coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking.  All the cokes are the same and all the cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it."

I love that quote.  I mean, I read it and wish to weep tears of carbonated high fructose corn syrup. Coca-Cola is the great equalizer.  If Coca-Cola was only available in the Brazilian rain forest as part of a biannual religious ceremony, manufactured by tribal priests through a secret process passed down through generations, if it was a sacramental drink that only select anthropologists and a few privileged celebrities could taste, it would be classified as ambrosia. Since its not, it's hip to disdain it and claim sensual superiority in other things.  But our man Andy sees through that bull. Good for him.