A new Turkey and Gravy Soda tastes, well, pretty much like you would imagine. But that's not stopping people from buying it.
Even the producers of the Thanksgiving-themed beverage at Jones Soda Co were surprised by the demand. They sold out all 6,000 bottles online within about two hours last week.
PHOTO: AFP
"To be honest, we really didn't think so many people would want it," said a Michelle Whitehead, marketing assistant at the Seattle-based premium soda company that has a reputation for quirky flavors.
Founder and CEO Peter van Stolk dreamed up the seasonal flavor on a lark, but admits he can't stomach an entire bottle.
The liquid's ominous, murky brown color accurately warns consumers about the taste. The first sips bring a mix of sweet caramel and savory lard -- and it's downhill from there.
A limited number of Turkey & Gravy Sodas will be available in stores around Seattle and Olympia for the suggested retail price of US$0.99. A few entrepreneurs are selling theirs on eBay.com; by Tuesday, the bidding was up to US$63 for a two-bottle set.
Mary Turner, a radio DJ in Lansing, Michigan, who is auctioning off a bottle for charity, has sampled the drink and warns that it's not for the faint of stomach: "If you roasted a turkey and mashed potatoes, put it in a blender, left it out for three days and then poured it into a Jones bottle, you'd know exactly what this drink tastes like!"
The company, founded in 1966, plans to donate proceeds from sales of Turkey & Gravy Soda to the US Marine Corps' Toys for Tots charity, and van Stolk said he will personally match the donation.
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