Pepsi Wasn't Bluffing About "Cocoa" Cola [Updated]
Update, January 28, 2021: Well, they're doing it. Pepsi has just announced in a press release that it's "making consumers' winter dreams come true" with the arrival of Pepsi "Cocoa" Cola—just in time for National Hot Chocolate Day on January 31. The brand touts the new cola as a "delicious twist on nostalgia," with a milk chocolate base and creamy vanilla undertones.
If you'll recall, Pepsi challenged fans to "unlock" the new flavor by retweeting a promotional tweet 2,021 times. According to the release, Pepsi received over 6,000 retweets in "a matter of hours," forcing the brand to whip up a batch of hot cocoa-flavored cola. If you want a two-liter all to yourself, all you have to do is snap a photo of yourself drinking hot cocoa and tweet it at Pepsi on Sunday, which is National Hot Chocolate Day, and you may have "a chance to win."
Original post, December 17, 2020: Last month, we reported on Pepsi's latest innovation: Pepsi Apple Pie, which was said to invoke "a sense of comfort and nostalgia with warm notes of cinnamon, the taste of a buttery crust, and the crispness of a fresh apple." (We don't know for sure because it was only available to winners of a social media sweepstakes.) Now, the mad scientists up there in Pepsi Castle are at it again with something new. Something... daring. Something called Pepsi "Cocoa" Cola. (Cue thunderclap and distant bloodcurdling scream.)
According to a press release, Pepsi "Cocoa" Cola is Pepsi cola mixed with a "delicious blend of cocoa" and hint of marshmallow. The release explains that the Pepsi test kitchen team "only whipped up a small batch," which is why the brand will only drop the new flavor if its "Cocoa" Cola announcement tweet gets 2,021 retweets.
"There is nothing more classic than hot cocoa on a winter day, but this year has been anything but typical" Todd Kaplan, Vice President of Marketing at Pepsi, said in a press release. "So why not bring together the delicious taste of a Pepsi with the delicious, wintery taste of chocolate and marshmallow and bring some unexpected joy to our fans this season?" Hmm. Why not, indeed? At press time, the brand's tweet had exactly 854 tweets, so the flavor roll-out is bit of a toss-up. Part of me wonders if this is one of those tweets that's like, "If this gets 100,000 retweets, I'll tattoo my own face on my butt." Is Pepsi bluffing? Retweet and find out, I suppose. Better than tattooing your own face on your butt.