^ There's a definite taste difference 'tween plastic and glass, Coke spend a fortune trying to rectify this.
But blind tasting between glass and cans ( i.e. both poured into a glass to serve) there's no discernible difference.
However if you drink it out of the can or bottle there is a big difference in flavour.
So the method of delivery to your mouth would seem to cause the taste difference.
There's also difference between sugars used, those made with corn syrup allegedly makes the worse tasting coke.
Great for hangovers, much better than Lucozade.
^ the corn syrup version (standard US version) is pish, overly sweet and an odd 'metallic' aftertaste ( similar mouth feel to Diet Coke).
When I lived in NY we used to hunt out the yellow cap 'kosher' version of Coke as it used the same formula as european Coke and when I was working on the west coast of the US I had friends who drove down to the Mexican border to buy the Mexican version of Coke in pre-mix syrup form and the classic glass bottle version (again both similar to european version) to then sell it at a huge premium to trendier bars in LA and SF ( a nice little earner for very little effort plus access to cheaper prescription drugs for friends and family).
It's the US governments 'corn subsidy' that keeps syrup costs low and manufacturers use the much cheaper corn based sweeteners to increase their profits ( I know this is a bit 'over simplistic' but hopefully you get the gist).
I never knew there was so much esotericism surrounding Coke, it's lost on me as I hardly touch hte stuff, or any fizzy soft drinks.
On the rare occasion when I do, these days I go for the 'full fat' Coke for the same reason as I would go for a coffee i.e. a sugar and caffeine fix. Without wishing to take over The Shooman's pitch, there's a lot of disturbing stuff coming out about regular consumption of 'diet' soft drinks.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030
^ I've been drinking a glass bottle version of Fanta from my local W.I. supermarket for a while now, a much better tasting version of the beverage (with slightly irregular bottles like you mentioned),
will check out if they do similar with Coke on my next visit.
A few of my University mates went on to work for Coke and they would have to visit 'bottlers' all over Europe and North Africa to ensure they weren't 'fucking up' the product too much ( there was an 'allowance' for local taste requirements, the bubble quotient for CO2 being the most lax).
Raw Coke syrup ( the stuff they use in post-mix systems) makes a great glaze on meat and fish, I used to keep some in the freezer as a secret weapon for barbeques.
'Coke Can Chicken' is another good 'un for the going over the coals (chicken cooked upright with the half-full can shoved up it's body cavity...the other half of the can used to baste the chicken for a shiny almost varnished look to the chicken skin).
^ oh and a large 'Cuba Libre' or Daquiri in my hand is always welcome...
Great info AB. I imagine they would have more room to mess about with the Fanta bottle. Far less iconic.
Just drank a Cup-a-soup. Disgusting.
Brancott Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. The fridge is stocked with a few bottles of Old Speckled Hen.
Somebody gave me a couple of bottles of La Romaine Viognier, I opened one over fish diner right now.....yuck! Definitely for the drain.
In any event, some very nice cognac in: Marquis XO, had a few last night watching the David Bowie documentary on BBC4 last night. Going to move right on in now....
Irn Bru.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyl7GP_VMJY
COFFEE!!! LOTS OF IT!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7i_pTZvwZo
It's Negroni time again !
RC's great. Still around the South in various holes in the wall. Right now I'm nursing an ice cold Corona Extra, "La Cerveza Mas Fina".