Polar – Black Cherry

I’ve had a few Polar Seltzers—and they’re an older company, apparently, in Worcester, Massachusetts—a town I’d move to in a second (if I had a job there) just because it’s a good diner town. Well, there are several diners, and I’ve only been to one, the Boulevard Diner, but it’s a great one. It’s long been my goal to visit them all—and try all the Polar varieties—so relocation seems imminent—just waiting for that job offer. For some reason “Black Cherry” sounds so much tastier than “Cherry”—but maybe that’s because I absolutely despise Cherry Coke (an aside: Dr. Pepper is not cherry cola—it’s its own thing—and I like it—but another discussion). Perhaps my revulsion is because I had a job where I had to use a cherry scented toilet cleaner. I’m afraid the association persists. But also, I just think cherry and cola go together like ice cream and mayonnaise. And I love cherries—a childhood neighbor had cherry trees where we spent a lot of time, climbing and eating. But one taste of this seltzer and—no. Gross. Sorry. Right to the bottom of the list. Well, we all need a basement—if for nothing else than a place to bury the bodies.

Addendum: I made an extra, small espresso one day and had put it in the refrigerator. Later, I got an idea: I poured it in a large glass, then filled it with this black cherry sparkling water—it foamed up impressively—it looked like the head on a glass of stout. And the shocking thing: it was delicious. For some reason, the coffee and cherry interact in a pleasant way that enhances them both. I’m sure I’m not the first to try this, but I’ll pretend I am, and now I have a new drink! I’m going to call it a “Black Cow.”

8.30.22