Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash

I meant to talk about this last year but, for whatever reason, I didn't get it posted.  I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash last year, and it might have even been pictured in one of my posts, but it definitely wasn't spotlighted.  This year.. that changes.  Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash rightfully deserves it's place on The Holidaze and I'll tell you why.  

To be honest with you, Cranberry Splash reminds me of Christmas much more than it does Halloween.  For starters, the first time I ever tried it was during the Christmas season.  I believe it was two years ago.  I was up late, playing a few games of NBA 2K10 on the 360, while taking sips of Cranberry Splash in between quarters.  It's a rough game, ya gotta replenish from all that fatigue!  

Secondly, the box is printed in red, white, and green.  Plus, the tree was lit, the smell of sugar cookies filled the house, and it was all about December 25th.  That's really what Cranberry Splash reminds me of.  The flavor itself can easily bring me right back to the Christmas season.  However, does that mean Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash is specifically a Christmas drink?  No way!  Not by a long shot!

Despite not claiming to be a seasonal product, Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash is, at least in my area, most definitely a seasonal edition.  Now, I've worked in Brooklyn a few times over the Summer and I've seen Cranberry Splash at Path Mark, but that's the only time I've ever seen it outside of this time of year.  For as much as I love Cranberry Splash, I don't want this to be available year-round.  This comes out at the perfect time and, over the past two years, this has become associated with the Big Three (October, November, December.)  In October, pretend you're a vampire and Cranberry Splash is your can of blood!  In November, bring it to Thanksgiving Dinner instead of Pepsi or Coke.  It changes things up!  In December, enjoy it all month and use the cans for decorations.  Honestly, if Pumpkin Beer is Fall's drink, then Cranberry Splash is Fall's non-alcoholic drink.  The classic cola's are great, but when it comes to this time of year, Cranberry Splash is my go-to soda and I'm happy to see it out a bit earlier than usual.

Of course, in our case, we're celebrating the Halloween Holidaze, so that means it's time to whip out the Skull Glass to enjoy our Cranberry Splash.  We have to differentiate between the holidays and what better way than using a transparent, disembodied skeleton to drink "blood" from?  Sometimes it takes imagination to create a better 'daze.  I'm a kid at heart and if there's one thing I'm confident in, it's my ability to be creative and use my imagination to enhance every day experiences.

I hope you're impressed by my pouring skills.  I managed to open and pour the can with one hand, while holding the camera to take photos with the other.  As you can tell, I'm full of unimportant, meaningless talent that will take me nowhere but The Holidaze.  But still, that's pretty cool!  The way the Cranberry Splash fizzes as it rises makes for a cool color all-around.  It goes from pink to red and whatever there is in-between.  Mountain Dew Code Red does the same thing and, in fact, I once used that on Valentines Day for my girlfriend's dinner.  So I think we just found another holiday Cranberry Splash is good for!

When it comes to flavor, I love Cranberry Splash.  It obviously tastes like Cranberry, but not as much as you'd expect.  I want to say it tastes like a bitter version of Sierra Mist, but that makes it sound bad.  It's not bad at all.  It's great!  I'll admit, I sometimes get caught up in what seasonal items represent and the memories attached to them more than anything else.  Sometimes I am willing to overlook taste, but in this case, I really enjoy it. If you've never tried it, I'd say go for it!  Pretend you're a blood-sucking vampire or zombie who thirsts for cranberry flavored blood!  You need it to stay alive and you're quickly dying!  Hurry! Watch, that Cranberry Splash is going to quench a thirst you never even had!  It's all imagination and if you can't use it on Halloween, what's the point of having it!?

Cheers, Zombies!