The 29th of March 1886 was a red-letter day for the world, as it was on this day that chemist John S Pemberton launched Coca Cola in Atlanta, Georgia in the USA. The drink wasn’t launched in the traditional sense by smashing a ship across the neck of the bottle but by being sold over the counter to eager customers. The drink became extremely popular because of its taste and also because it contained a small amount of cocaine, hence its name.
Over the years the fame of Coca Cola was spread far and wide, mainly by the American forces, until it has become established as the number one soft fizzy drink (soda) in the world. The cocaine ingredient has long since disappeared, as there was a time when people did actually become addicted to the drink because of the drug. Even today there are people who claim to be actually addicted to drinking Coke, as it became to be known, but without any cocaine in the liquid it is hard to see how. Nonetheless I know of one person, a workmate, who used to buy three 2 litres bottles each and every day that I knew him and drink them during his hours at work.
But that aside Coca Cola is a splendid refreshing drink when cold which also mixes well with a variety of alcoholic spirits such as white and dark rum, vodka, whiskey and even brandy, although I feel that the best mixer for brandy is Canada Dry Ginger Ale. The purists will no doubt throw their collective hands up in horror at the thought of adulterating a fine spirit with a soda but it happens nonetheless.
Before the advent of cans and plastic bottles the unique shape of the Coke bottle would be instantly recognised anywhere in the world, as would the trademark name. The not too sweet taste of the very dark brown liquid is unique to Coca Cola and still made to the same secret formula today, less the cocaine, as it was in 1886. Many have tried to emulate the Coca Cola taste and all have failed although some, like Pepsi Cola, have come pretty close. So close in fact that Pepsi has seriously challenged the supremacy of Coke and in some countries it is preferred to the original cola drink. But it is a case of each to their own and I prefer Coke.
Ships are launched by smashing a bottle of liquid, usually champagne, over the bows of a ship