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Pepsi Throwback (And My Unhealthy Love Of It)
Published on: September 14, 2009 – 2:41 pm by Jillian Madison 
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We interrupt your regularly scheduled Food Network Humor to bring you this completely unpaid endorsement via an only slightly exaggerated story about my personal life:
Hi, I’m Jillian Madison, and I love Pepsi Throwback. It’s light. It’s crisp. It’s refreshing. It’s basically THE BEST SODA I’VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.
I bought three cases of it when it first came out back in May, but by July, my friends and I finished it all. So I did what any addict afficinado would do: I spent the last 3 months scouring the streets for more of it… wandering bleary-eyed in and out of store after store, but tasting only cold, empty rejection at every turn. I could feel the icy eyes of store employees beating down on me as I shuffled up and down the beverage aisles. “Hey, there’s that girl lookin’ for that soda again,” they’d snicker to their friends. “HEY LITTLE LADY, we ain’t got any of that there Throwback drink, and guess what? We ain’t ever gettin’ it again! <insert evil laughter here>”
And so, in August, I finally gave up my search for Pepsi Throwback (which is basically the holy grail of carbonated beverages). I pulled out of the parking lot of that final Stop & Shop empty handed, with only the cold realization that my true beverage love was gone forever, never to be tasted again. Damn you, limited edition products, damn you to hell.
So is that where the story ends? Hell no.
Picture this. Stew Leonards. September 2009. I round the corner after the bread area to see A GIGANTIC DISPLAY OF PEPSI THROWBACK! Holy shit! There were over 100 cases there! And the funny part is, I wasn’t even there specifically looking for it, like I had been so many times before. Isn’t that what they say about love? “You’ll find it when you least expect it?” Apparently, that’s true for refreshing carbonated products as well. Who knew?
Anyway, at first I panicked. I didn’t know what to do. “Damn it, I don’t know anyone with a dump truck,” I thought, as I slid my finger up and down the length of one of the cases to make sure it was real. I had every intention of buying every one of ‘em. But instead, I took a deep breath, ran to the front of the store, tackled a pregnant lady for her shopping cart, acquired a shopping cart in a calm manner, returned to the display, and loaded that sucker up with as many cases as it would hold. 24 cases, to be exact.
And here it is, in all its glory, sitting in a dark closet in my garage:
That was last week. Cut to a few hours ago. Two of my friends left me a voicemail straight out of the movie “The Sweetest Thing”. It was 30 seconds of them laughing, before one of them finally choked out the words, “Jill, give us a call, we have something to tell you.”
So I call. And after 2 more minutes of laughter, they scream, in unison mind you, “PEPSI’S BRINGING BACK THROWBACK IN DECEMBER!” I did the research. They just announced it. It’s true. Un-freaking-believable.
Thanks a lot, Pepsi. Thanks a lot.
And now back to your regularly scheduled Food Network Humor.
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YES! My fiancee and I are Mountain Dew Throwback addicts.
So it’s like Mexican Coke? (Uses real sugar instead of all that high fructose crapola)?
I tried Mexican coke a couple of times, good stuff, I can notice the difference, but I have had like 4 cokes / pepsis this year trying to cut out calories and fit into my designer jeans you know!)
Noooooo. It’s nothing like Mexican Coke. I tried that stuff and hated it! Pepsi Throwback is so much better. It’s basically just Pepsi with sugar instead of HFCS. It’s lighter. Crisper. DELICIOUS-ER.
I only have 2-3 cans of soda a week… but since I’ve tasted Throwback, it’s the only stuff I’ll drink now. You just can’t go back to the original, or even worse, to Coke. Yuck.
Hey Jillian, is that our beloved Rachael Ray holding the can? Sure looks like I’ve seen those hands pouring some EVOO before.
Cannot tell you guys how many times this similar situation has happened to me. Last time I was at a store (home improvement, wtf?) and spotted “SCREAMING YELLOW ZONKERS”, a snack food I’ve not seen since high school in the ’80’s. Wifey had to talk me down from my food erection.
Totally understand.
Nope, that’s my hand. Just took that in the back yard a few minutes ago! True, these hands have poured their share of olive oil… just not all over JOHN CUSIMANO’S NAKED BODY. Shudder.
Ok. I gotta try this one. Very intrigued. Looks like I will have to wait till Dec. but I have a cool liquor store then sets all sorts of special stuff aside so I will ask next time I go.
Posts like this solidify my unspoken desire to want to hang out with you in real life. JUST SAYING.
love love love the Throwback. I can’t have any now cause i’m training for a marathon. But when I’m done, Jillian I’m showing up at your house and you better have a cold one waiting for me. :)
Funny story! I like the way you write. I felt like I was there experiencing it all. Anyway, I have not had Throwback but am going to go on a hunt to find some in my area. I’ll let you know!
Doh! See what happens when I assume? No offense taken, I hope.
Enjoy decadentally.
Same thing happened to me. Only it wasn’t as funny. I had a can at my brother’s house then went on a month long search for it. I couldn’t find it anywhere. Saw some being sold on Amazon but this jerk wanted like $20 to ship it!
I’ve never been much of a soda (better known as POP where I live!) drinker but had a blast from the past last weekend. Some people in line behind DH and I at the market had a 6-pack of FAYGO ROCK & RYE. This was the only “pop” that my parents let us drink while growing up in the 50s-60s, and that was only for special occasions. For those not familiar with this “Motown” product, Rock & Rye is a fruit-flavored cola beverage (I never knew if it was cherry or strawberry or a combination of the two). I had no idea that Rock & Rye was even produced any longer, but the folks who were buying it now lived in Texas and said that they enjoy it whenever they visit the Detroit area.
Jill this was a hilarious story. Thanks for sharing. Pepsi should give you an unlimited lifetime supply of Pepsi Throwback for all the free advertising you gave them! I for one am totally buying into the hype and am dying to try it. My sister said she saw some for sale at my local grocery. I’m going to hit it up after work and see if I get lucky.
Hallo!
My email is not set to connect when I click a tab like “Contact us” so I wasn’t able to see what addy to send this to.
Here’s Pauler on Mike Huckabee and she’s quite touching.
(it’s in 2 segments)
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=9566058&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/
Oops! Sorry! Didn’t mean to skew your comments section!
ha! pwned!
Great story! I hate when stores have items, you buy and discover it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. Then a month later, GONE. GGGRRRRR….
Now the question becomes, Jillian, are you going to have to evaluate your sharing with friends ala Seinfeld’s Elaine and her “Today” sponges and determine who is “Pepsi Throwback” worthy??
lol, byrdie.
Spot on Byrdie. You know we all do that “sponge worthy” thing. Usually mine focuses around a specific wine (Chateau Montelena) comes to mind) or cut of meat I have in the basement freezer (rack of lamb?)
I actually do play out that scenario in my mind, “Hmm, well I don’t really care for so-and so’s boyfriend, Kendall-Jackson or Charles Shaw will be fine”.
I’m a jerk, but at least I’m aware of it.
Who’ll be “worthy”?
I loved the Throwback commercials. Never occurred to me to actually try the product. Funny story.
You’re right, Dank. We all make that “sponge worthy” decision about one thing or another every day. You ain’t a jerk, just honest!
Ah, but have you tried Pepsi Natural? Comes in a glass bottle, and I became addicted to it. Not sure if it is still available, but it was my summer drink of choice.
Jillian, you ain’t got NOTHIN’ on me :) When Mountain Dew had their three flavors out last summer (Revolution, Voltage, and Supernova (read: Canned Vomit)), I tried them all. Revolution was heaven in a can, and Voltage was pretty good too. When I found out that Revolution lost, I was horrified. I went to Meijer (a midwestern grocery store chain that also has clothes. Like Walmart, but not so sellout-ish.) and bought all of their 12-pack cases of Revolution. Then, I went to another Meijer in my town and bought their whole supply. Then I went to the other Meijer (they’re big stores, but I live in a big city. We have three in my city and two more within 20 miles, hahaha) and bought their supply. When I was finished, I had SIXTY EIGHT 12 packs. That’s 816 cans!!! I had a picture but I lost it when my dog took a piss on my camera and ruined my memory card. The super sad thing is that I finished it all by Christmas.
So what are they now official sponsor of this place?
haha j/k
Whatever – you HAVE made most curious to try.
My most favorite SODA is Diet-Rite white grape, and I haven’t had any in a while because it’s not easy to find in my neighborhood :(
Jillian, I am SO glad to hear that you like this stuff! I never got a chance to try it, and I’m definitely going to look forward to it coming back out! I hate buying products with HFCS and have pretty much eliminated it from my diet… but I am such a Pepsi addict, I find myself buying a case of pop once a month just the same! I can’t wait to try this!
Same thing happened to Elaine on Sienfeld with the Sponge birth control. She stockpiled them then freaked out cuz no one was worthy. Jillian, be sure your friends are “Throwback Worthy”!!!
I just saw a whole display of that stuff in my Walmart yesterday. I always wanted to try it, but I forgot to buy it..
Sorry Byrdie,
Didn’t see your comment till after I blabbled mine!
Frog Legs, the more the merrier! Great minds run together!
Now if they’d only do the same with Crystal Pepsi…
“I went to Meijer (a midwestern grocery store chain that also has clothes. Like Walmart, but not so sellout-ish.)”
Meijer is terrific! I’ve been shopping there (mostly grocery staples) since the early 1970s. There is a new store under construction nearby, and I’m really looking forward to it!
Too bad you don’t live near me because it hasn’t left the shelves since it came out! I tried it, but it wasn’t really my thing. I was mad when they took the vanilla Pepsi off the market though – I never saw it coming!
Also from the mid-west and am a Meijer WHOOORRRRE! Love it!
@FrogLegs: I won’t call myself a Meijer “ho”, but I do like going there for food staples. Meijer has evolved over the years and now easily competes with the product lines of Kroger and other chain markets. I can’t wait for the new store to open!
Remember when it was called MEIJER THRIFTY ACRES?
I’m so glad you found your throwback! My brother Tim was devastated when they stopped making the breakfast cereal Alpha-Bits. He was never able to find it outside of New England so we used to ship it to him, but then it just went away, forever.
“Remember when it was called MEIJER THRIFTY ACRES?”
DH and I are LOAO!! Some folks were called it SHIFTY ACRES!
Jillian, maybe you could lend Bobby Flay one can of Throwback for a Throwdown.
This is great! The best humor always has an element of the personal IMO. I completely feel your pain – I miss Dr. Pepper’s Berries & Cream flavor!!
OMG CherryRose and FrogLegs! Other people have heard of Meijer…that makes me sooo happy! Where are y’all from? (I’m from mid-Michigan). The days of Meijer Thrifty Acres are looooong before my time, though :)
I’ve been looking for this soda for months now, ever since they started playing the ads on TV constantly. I have looked for it EVERY F’N WHERE and can not find a single can.
“..CherryRose..Other people have heard of Meijer…that makes me sooo happy! Where are y’all from? (I’m from mid-Michigan)..”
Grew up in Motown. North of the city now.
I loathe Meijer’s, except for their sale items like 10 for $10. I find most of their prices awful. So I tend to shop at Kroger for things on sale, and Wal-Mart which has pretty good regular prices. I also supplement this with foods from Aldi’s.
yummyummyummm i LOVE Throwback! Even though i am not a big soda drinker, if i am going to have one once in a while i like something that tastes GREAATTT!!!
I will have to find where they are selling them near me :)
I have an unhealthy love of Pepsi since high school, some 12 odd years ago. I haven’t heard of this Throwback however, but I am up in Canada, which may be why. I have to check the pop aisle next time I’m out, just to see… because you have me drooling here now.
Dang, I never even heard of Pepsi Throwback before this. I feel like I’m missing out!
I still pine for Pepsi Kona (from the mid-90s), although everyone I know thinks it was disgusting!
@Lynxie: I know, right? I’m drooling and I don’t even drink soda. It was a serious addiction and I had to give it up altogether. No middle ground for me. I hope this one doesn’t come to Trinidad or I just might fall off the wagon! I’ll live vicariously through Jillian and others.
Hooray! We had stockpiled as well, and literally opened the last case over the weekend! Only a few months to wait for the new batch!
(and glad to hear we’re not the only crazies who loved it enough to stockpile!)
We also stockpiled Pepsi Throwback cases–High Fructose Corn Syrup is not allowed in our household! (My better half lost 15 lb in one year after he swore off HFCS products and only consumed the natural sugar equivalents.) We don’t drink a lot of soda, so they’ll last a good long time.
I prefer Coke myself, so every spring I get the grocery store to order 75 cases of Passover Coke so I can have real-sugar Coke too. You become VERY popular with friends when you offer to give/sell extra cases. ;) Now, if I can just get caffeine-free Passover Coke, I’ll be the world’s happiest clam!
My husband is addicted to the Mountain Dew throwback, but we can’t find it anywhere! Maybe it will make a comeback as well? One can only hope…
My husband and I had almost completely sworn off soda when we saw Pepsi Throwback and had to try. We were already hooked on Passover Coke. They’re both quite addictively delicious. I’m glad it’s coming back in December…I just ran out and was about to go on quest to fill the basement fridge! Now I can buy in rational quantities.
Here’s a second on the request to bring back Crystal Pepsi! Crystal Pepsi Throwback…we could make a mint! Well, Pepsico would. :(
sorry to burst your bubble here friend, but I was reading your post about the Throwback Pepsi…. you mentioned that you have 24 cases. Technically you have 24 – 12 packs, which means you have only 12 cases. STILL it is a awesome that you found it and I am sure this will be enough to last you a while… sorry =(
Wow, Jerasphere, that definitely wins as “pettiest comment I have ever read on any blog in my lifetime.” Congrats.
I’m a Pepsi Throwback addict as well. I never stored more than 6 12-packs at a time, though. This month I decided to let my supply run out so that I would consume fewer calories. When I reached the last Pepsi I panicked and rushed out to restock- only to find that there are NO MORE PEPSI THROWBACKS at my grocery store, or at the local Walmart. I’m still lookin’. Why, oh why did I let myself run out of PT?
I still have 5 cans left of my stash. I threatened my hubby if he DARED to touch my stash. I feel your pain! ;-)
@Jerasphere Thanks for the math lesson. GayleKing sure won’t be sharing any with you, ever!
I love Meijer! Used to work at one back in HS in the great state of KY. Lots of good times were had there. Haven’t tried the Pepsi Throwback, I will have to try it. My husband loves Mt. Dew Throwback, and as mentioned before I too hope it will make a comeback. I am sad Alpha-Bits are gone, ’twas also my favorite cereal growing up. I also haven’t seen Coke Blak anywhere in a while, first tried it overseas…couldn’t find it anywhere here at home. Thought it was disgusting and strange at first, then when I saw it in Kroger one day I just had to buy it for laughs. The glass bottle super-chilled was much better. Anyone know where it went?
“I had a picture but I lost it when my dog took a piss on my camera and ruined my memory card.” That cracked me up and I am now cleaning spit off my monitor.
Can’t wait to try Pepsi Throwback. The last time it was available and I finally found a store that had it in stock, there was one case left. The package was beat to hell and had been resealed with packing tape. Um, no thanks. No telling what could have been in there. Hope I have better luck in December.
Wow…I have not heard of this wondrous beverage until reading this post!! I am extremely disheartened! I swear, I have never seen this in stores, ever!
Having said that, I can’t wait until it comes back out…I would love to try it! And love it.
Huge fan of Pepsi Throwback (Mountain Dew’s a whole lot better with real sugar too, IMHO). I’m so glad to hear it’s coming back in a few months! I’d never heard of or seen Passover Pepsi… sounds intriguing.
7-up puts out a seasonal flavor at Christmas – pomegranate… that stuff is wonderful! It works great as a glaze for baked ham too, substituting it for Dr. Pepper.
Holy thumb ring! Is that you Fieri?
That is NOT Fieri! The ring is too classy.
Pepsi with sugar is now back in stores starting 12-28-2009. I just bought some today! Start hoarding, its only available for 8 weeks! I Still have 13 cases of pepsi throwback left from this summer that expires in Feb! The only weird thing is they changed the Pepsi Throwback logo to the orignal pepsi logo, you cant miss it. Its EASY to spot.
Most of the stores around me only have the 20 ounces singles of pepsi, mountain dew and dr pepper ALL with sugar, but I cornered the Pepsi delivery guy at meijer and the cases are on their way. YAY!!!