Spotlight on the World of Coca-Cola: Export Bottle

One of the most interesting and rarest artifacts that we have on display at the World of Coca-Cola is a small green bottle adorned with gold foil that resembles a Champagne bottle. This bottle is known as the Export Bottle as it was the first bottle specifically created to be sold outside the United States.

These bottles were only distributed on trans-Atlantic luxury ocean liners from the late 1920s to the early 1930s. Because these bottles were to be consumed on board the ships, fewer than a dozen of them have survived, making this bottle almost impossible to find. The World of Coca-Cola may be the only place where serious memorabilia collectors can actually see one of these coveted packages.

Cooking With Coke - Cranberry Coca-Cola Chutney

Keeping with the holiday spirit this week, Chef Hopkins prepared a cranberry Coca-Cola Chutney for this weeks Cooking with Coke demonstration.  The recipe is very easy and the Coke enhances and balances the tartness of the orange juice and the sweetness of the sugar.  Download Cranberry Coca-Cola Chutney recipe here.

Chef Hopkins served it with guinea hen but it would be great with your turkey as well.

 

 

Spotlight On The World Of Coca-Cola - 1928 Mexican Calendar

While Coca-Cola may have been available in bottles or as a fountain product imported from the US, Bottling operations for The Coca-Cola Company began in Mexico in 1926 in the cities of Tampico and Monterrey, Mexico.  It did not take long for some of the traditional advertising forms to be used.

This calendar from 1928 is one of the oldest Mexican artifacts we have in our collection.  When we were developing the story for section of the Milestones of Refreshment gallery pertaining to international expansion, we knew this calendar had to be included.

Regardless of the language, it is easy to identify the slogan, "Deliciosa Y Refrescante."

Cooking With Coca-Cola - Mixologist Greg Best's Coca-Cola Sour

We are returning to the drink side of Holeman & Finch's service in our weekly video feature.  Mixologist Greg Best has a very interesting take on the classic Whiskey Sour.  Called a Pemberton Sour, Greg's recipe features an egg and atomized Coca-Cola syrup.  He also gives the history behind the term "Sour" and why the drinks were developed.

A Coca-Cola Wedding

Readers of the blog may have noticed that Ray is a frequent commenter and won quite a few of the photo caption contests.  Ray had a very special event last weekend - his wedding to Dianne. He just sent me some photos from the event and I wanted to share them with you.  I think we can all agree that the decor was in excellent taste.

Lets all raise our glasses in a Coca-Cola toast and give Ray and Dianne our best wishes!

Spotlight on the World of Coca-Cola: Bobby Walthour Ad

Most people would be surprised to learn that the very first athletes to endorse Coca-Cola were marathon bicyclists. A Georgia native, Bobby Walthour was racing professionally by age 18, winning both sprints and six-day races. In 1901 and 1903, he won America's greatest race, the six-day race held inside Madison Square Garden. He continued to race competitively into the 1920s and was recognized as one of the leading wheelmen of his time.

In 1909,Walthour appeared in an endorsement ad for Coca-Cola. In the text, he said: "When I first went into a six-day race took a jug of Coca-Cola to New York with me and drank it all the time I was there. After that experience, I have never been without Coca-Cola because it keeps me fresh, but does not stimulate and then leave me all broken up."

The original ad is part of our display on Sports and Entertainment.

Mean Joe Greene To Receive His CLIO Award This Weekend

When we interviewed "Mean" Joe Greene last year to capture the oral history of how his famous ad was made, he mentioned to me that he had never received his CLIO award for the commercial.  The commercial was awarded two CLIOS in 1980, one for best ad and a second for best male performance.  Somehow, Joe never got the hardware. We have been working with the CLIO people, and it has taken a few months, but Joe is going to receive his statuette this weekend at the Steelers game.  We should be able to post some video footage of the ceremony next week.

Here is a USA Today article on the celebration.

A Different Santa Veteran's Day

I have blogged about Coke and the troops during World War II several times in the past.  Today, in honor or Veterans' Day, I wanted to share one of my favorite paintings in our collection. 

Readers of this blog will know about the Coca-Cola Santa Claus painted by Haddon Sundblom.  The first of these Santas was painted in 1931 and Sundblom painted a new one each year.  During World War II, the Coca-Cola Santa even did his part by delivering War Bonds.  If you look in Santa's bag, you can see the bond right in the front.

Sundlom was not above parodying his own iconic image.  In this war related painting the Santa Claus has a slightly different home base than the North Pole.

Cooking with Coca-Cola - Chef Linton Hopkins Coke BBQ Sauce

This weeks Cooking with Coca-Cola video features that Southern staple - BBQ sauce.  We have posted several BBQ sauce recipes in the past and have received numerous comments.  Chef Hopkins celebrates his native Georgia by featuring locally grown products.  You can also Download Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce recipe here.

 

Spotlight On The World Of Coca-Cola - Airline Cooler

For our World of Coke spotlight this week, I wanted to both highlight the artifact and the reason we chose it for the museum. 

I have blogged in the past about Delta Airlines and the early cardboard cooler used to serve Coca-Cola.  By 1942, those coolers were replaced by the stainless steel coolers we now call "airline coolers."  These distinctively shaped coolers were made to fit compactly on the aircraft.

While most of the coolers were painted red, some, such as the one in the photograph to the left, were produced as all stainless steel.  All were embossed with the Coca-Cola logo in the center.

One of the galleries in the Milestones of Refreshment exhibit at the World of Coke focuses on the development of our logo.  All the artifacts in the case were carefully selected to highlight the instant recognition of the famous Coca-Cola script.  To do this we show the logo on items such as kites, jackets, hats and a stainless steel airline cooler which sits front and center in the case.  Check it out when you visit next time.