Sometimes Foodie: The Cola that fell to Earth

I am fighting the urge to obnoxiously yell, "SPACE COKE," the same way Peter Dinklage yelled "SPACE PANTS" in his SNL skit a few years back.

This is a novelty product. I know it, you know it, Coca-Cola knows it...but I had to buy it anyway. It's Space flavored Coca-Cola. SPACE flavored. What does that even mean? There aren't any descriptors on the packaging, and the press release online boasted a "subtle cooling sensation." Will this be like those cooling Chinese ice cream Oreos I tried a few years ago that were mentholated? (I hope not.) I guess we'll see!

Available in single serve bottles and those tiny lunch-box-sized cans, the themed packaging is simple but very appealing. We have white splatter "stars" across a red-pink-purple-gradient backdrop. Looking at the little specks and colors is a refreshing change from the standard red-label Coke, and I like that they didn't try too hard.

When opened, it smells...typical. A lot like normal, classic, Cocoa-Cola. It's sweet, caramelized, but maybe slightly fruity? It's hard to put a finger on exactly what is different, but it is just different enough by smell alone that you know it's not normal Coke.

I took a sip, and it's smooth, smoother than usual, and very sweet. My first thoughts are cotton candy, but not actual, fluffy, cotton candy. This is more like what water ice companies and popsicles call "cotton candy." It's sweet, creamy, but with this odd after taste that reminds me of butter popcorn Jelly Belly jelly beans. It doesn't make me think of space, or stars, but I am getting strong soda-and-popcorn-at-the-movies-vibes. The popcorn-taste seems to go away after a few sips.
About halfway through the bottle I found myself wondering if it was under-carbonated. It feels creamy and a little flatter than normal Coke. Kind of like it came from a soda fountain, not a prepackaged bottle. Due to it's sweet flatness, the more I drink, the less I like it. And I don't detect any cooling sensation, other than it being chilled from the fridge.
Starlight is fun, but it's not something I would want to reach for and drink year-round. I'm very glad I tried it, and I am excited to see where the rest of this Coke Creations line is headed (Candyhunting already informed us of their next flavor.) Fun pop culture note, I saw HBO is releasing a new adaptations of The Man who Fell to Earth, and the previous film version I saw featured David Bowie. Lots of spacey-tie-ins there. So this could be a fun themed beverage to sip on while watching, or while listening to Ziggy Stardust.
This is a gimmick, but it's a fun gimmick. I would say it's worth trying once, and to definitely grab a few bottles before it's gone based on the novelty alone. I'm not in love with it, but the fun I had sipping on space cola was well worth the price tag. SPACE COKE!