We’ve all been there—standing in the soda aisle, staring down the same two giants: Pepsi and Coke. But what if we told you there’s a third contender that’s been quietly flying under the radar since 1905? That’s right—RC Cola, the OG underdog of the cola world, is back and it’s bringing a zero sugar version to the party!
We recently sat down to taste-test both the classic RC Cola and the brand new RC Zero Sugar, then went deep into the world of Coca-Cola—tasting everything from Mexican Coke to the wild (and surprisingly amazing) Oreo Coca-Cola. Spoiler alert: the results were NOT what we expected.
So grab your favorite glass, settle in, and let’s get into it!
First Up: RC Cola—The Ultimate Underdog
A Blast From the Past
Here’s a little personal history for you. Back when we first got married, we were die-hard RC Cola drinkers. Not because we were making some bold statement against the big cola brands—honestly, it was purely because it was the cheapest thing going. We’re talking around 89 cents for a 2-liter!
Fast forward to today and that same 2-liter now sits at $1.99 at Meijer (we grabbed ours on sale for $1.66). Sure, prices have gone up across the board, but that’s still a pretty compelling deal. And yes, 2-liters do go flat faster than you’d like—even with the lid screwed on tight—but the value is hard to argue with.
So, How Does RC Cola Actually Taste?
RC Cola has always been that fascinating middle ground between Pepsi and Coke, and honestly? That still holds true today.
The classic RC Cola has a sweetness that hits you immediately—it’s full-calorie, so that tracks—but it also comes with a slight harshness that kicks in as it goes down. It’s noticeably less carbonated than Coke, which makes it a lot smoother to drink. If Coke feels like a tingly, fizzy punch to the taste buds, RC is more of a polite handshake. It sits comfortably between the two giants, borrowing a little from both without fully committing to either.
What’s really interesting is that RC has more of that classic, old-school soda flavor—similar to what you get from those artisan sodas sold in glass bottles at farmers markets. It’s got character. It’s got history. And it genuinely tastes great.
The New Kid: RC Cola Zero Sugar
Now HERE is where things get exciting. RC Cola Zero Sugar is brand new, and we have thoughts.
First thing we noticed? More fizz! The pour had a better head on it than the regular, which was a good sign. And the flavor? Honestly, really close to the original. Like, impressively close. There’s a slight sweetener aftertaste—as you’d expect with any zero sugar drink—but it’s mild and fades quickly.
Here’s the kicker: that harsh bite you get at the end of the regular RC Cola? Completely gone with the zero sugar version. Once it hits the back of your throat, it’s smooth sailing. No sharpness, no edge—just clean, sweet cola flavor.
We’re genuinely big fans of the RC Zero Sugar. If you’ve been avoiding RC because of the full-sugar thing, this is your sign to give it another shot. It’s a really solid option!
Where Does RC Sit in the Cola World?
RC Cola is closer to the Pepsi side of the flavor spectrum, but with its own distinct personality. It’s not trying to be Coke, and it’s not trying to be Pepsi. It’s just doing its own thing—and doing it well.
If you’ve tried both Coke and Pepsi and found yourself thinking “eh, I don’t love either,” RC Cola might just be your perfect match. It’s the best of both worlds without the baggage of brand loyalty. Being a cola independent has never tasted so good!
Now Let’s Talk Coca-Cola—All of It
Coca-Cola serves over a billion drinks daily. That’s a staggering number. So we did what any reasonable people would do and tried every version of Coca-Cola we could get our hands on to figure out which one actually deserves that crown.
Classic Coca-Cola
The OG. The standard. The benchmark against which all others are measured. Classic Coke is… Coke. It’s exactly what you expect—crisp, sweet, with that signature fizzy burn. Solid, dependable, but not exactly mind-blowing when you’ve been drinking it your whole life. A very respectable 6 out of 10.
Mexican Coca-Cola
You’ve probably heard the hype—Coke in a glass bottle, made with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. The internet swears it tastes better. We were excited. And then… it did NOT deliver. Something about it grabbed onto the tongue in a way that felt off—almost like eating a handful of black jelly beans. A 3 from one of us, a 6 from the other. Divisive, to say the least.
Japanese Coca-Cola
This one surprised us! There was definitely something different about it—a slight bubble gum quality, a little more nuance in the flavor profile. Not dramatically better, but interesting enough to score a 6 from both of us. Worth trying if you come across it!
Coke Zero Sugar vs. Diet Coke
Let’s put this debate to rest once and for all: yes, there IS a difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke. Coke Zero feels more level, less aggressive—like a smoother, more controlled version of classic Coke. Diet Coke has that melted-ice-cube vibe—watered down and a little flat in flavor. Coke Zero takes the win here, scoring a 7, while Diet Coke landed at a 4.
The Knock-Off Colas (Spoiler: Just Buy the Real Thing)
We also ventured into knock-off territory, trying C Cola, Woolworths Cola, and LA Ice Cola. Let’s just say… they were a reminder of why brand loyalty exists. Carpet aftertastes, musty notes, and flavors that barely registered as cola. Scores ranged from a 1 to a 5, and honestly, that felt generous. Do yourself a favor and skip these.
The Flavor Variations
Vanilla Coke: A classic for a reason. The vanilla softens the whole experience and gives it a warmth that the original doesn’t have. One of us called it a Slice of Heaven and gave it an 8. The other was more restrained with a 6. Either way, it’s a crowd-pleaser—especially paired with a splash of bourbon.
Vanilla Coke Zero: Even better than the original vanilla! That zero-sugar flatness actually works really well with vanilla, making the whole thing feel smoother and more enjoyable. A 7 and a 9—easily one of the best of the day.
Raspberry Coke: Smelled incredible. Tasted like it was raw-dogging your throat on the way down. That aftertaste is genuinely one of the most unpleasant things we experienced all day. A 1 and a 3. Hard pass.
Coke Lime: Aggressively lime. Like, really aggressively lime. If you love citrus, you might enjoy this. If you’re expecting any actual Coke flavor to come through, you’re going to be disappointed. A 4 from both of us.
Raspberry Spice Coke (Discontinued): Smelled like raspberry, tasted like Dr. Pepper had a bad day. Medicinal, with what one of us described as “essence of fart.” A 1 and a 2. Moving on.
Cherry Coke: That artificial cherry flavor that tastes nothing like an actual cherry, but somehow has its own distinct personality. It’s fine. It’s a Twin Peaks kind of cherry—dark, syrupy, a little mysterious. A 2 and a 5. Divisive!
And The Winner Is… Oreo Coca-Cola!
Nobody saw this coming. We certainly didn’t. But Oreo Coca-Cola absolutely stole the show and ran away with a perfect 10 from both of us.
The first sip hits you with these incredible tiramisu-like notes—creamy, slightly sweet, with an unexpected depth that makes you do an immediate double-take. It works in ways that make zero logical sense, but here we are. The flavor fades a little as you keep drinking, but that initial hit is genuinely spectacular. We might even keep drinking Coke after today just because of this one flavor.
The Coke-flavored Oreos, on the other hand? A completely different story. Musty, musky, with every bad quality of the worst colas we tasted compressed into a biscuit. A 1 across the board. The concept was better than the execution.
The Final Verdict
| Cola | Rating |
|---|---|
| Oreo Coca-Cola | ⭐ 10/10 — An absolute revelation |
| Vanilla Coke Zero | ⭐ 8-9/10 — Smooth, sweet perfection |
| RC Cola Zero Sugar | ⭐ 8/10 — Way better than expected |
| Vanilla Coke | ⭐ 6-8/10 — A dependable classic |
| Classic RC Cola | ⭐ 7/10 — The great middle ground |
| Coke Zero | ⭐ 5-7/10 — Reliable, if not exciting |
| Classic Coca-Cola | ⭐ 6/10 — The benchmark, nothing more |
| Mexican Coke | ⭐ 3-6/10 — Hyped for a reason? We’re not sure |
| Diet Coke | ⭐ 4/10 — Flat in every sense |
| Raspberry Coke | ⭐ 1-3/10 — A cautionary tale |
Ready to Run Your Own Taste Test?
Here’s the thing—taste is completely personal, and the only way to know which cola is YOUR cola is to try them yourself. But if we had to leave you with one recommendation, it’s this: do not sleep on RC Cola Zero Sugar. It’s new, it’s surprisingly good, and it might just be the smoothest zero sugar cola we’ve ever had.
And if you ever spot Oreo Coca-Cola on a shelf somewhere? Drop everything. Grab it. Trust us on this one.
Have a favorite cola we didn’t try? Drop it in the comments—we’d love to know what we’re missing!