# making my dream coke flavor

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld0g4nVlHPg
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/Ld0g4nVlHPg
Generated: 2026-01-31T15:06:06.297+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The creators successfully mixed essential oil flavors into Coca-Cola to create a custom "Pirated Coke" flavor, though some combinations resulted in unpleasant tastes like soap or perfume, leading them to discard the tractor hydraulic seal project they had initially intended to work on.

**Key Points:**
- The main activity shifted from repairing a tractor hydraulic cylinder to creating a custom Coca-Cola flavor blend using various essential oils.
- The initial goal of fixing the tractor hydraulic cylinder was abandoned after they failed to remove a retaining ring, which was dented and required specialized tools or machine work.
- They used a high-precision pipette to add 100 microliters of various flavor oils (including Black Cherry, Anise Star, Rosemary, Candy Cane, etc.) into small samples of Coke.
- The resulting flavor combinations were rated, with one mixture tasting distinctly like soap/perfume (likely due to the Irish Spring scent) and another tasting like the original Coke.
- The mixture containing Black Pepper and Black Cherry was described as tasting like 'old people's perfume,' while the one with Cinnamon and Pine tasted like 'a toy' or 'a Christmas candle.'
- The successful flavor profile was identified as a mix of Black Cherry, Vanilla, and a small amount of Black Pepper, resulting in a 'smooth' taste reminiscent of a higher-quality store-brand cola.
- The project served as a practical application for the laboratory equipment they used, such as the precision pipette and the hot plate used for melting a nylon piece.

![Screenshot at 00:05: William introduces the setting, showing his farm and the sunflower, before pivoting the video's focus from fixing his dream tractor to creating a custom Coke flavor.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ld0g4nVlHPg/00-00-05.jpg)

**Context:** The video begins with William showing his farm and a broken Ford tractor, explaining that his dream was to fix the tractor, specifically the hydraulic lift cylinder. However, they encountered an immediate problem trying to remove a retaining ring from the cylinder, which was damaged and seemed impossible to remove without specialized tools or machining. They ultimately abandoned the tractor repair to pivot to a secondary, more feasible project: creating a custom flavor profile for Coca-Cola using a variety of essential oils and a chemistry setup, including a pipette and a hot plate.

## Detailed Analysis

The video starts with William introducing his farm and his dream of fixing a Ford tractor lift cylinder, but they quickly encounter a major roadblock: they cannot remove the retaining ring holding the piston assembly together because it is dented and stuck (00:09-00:13). They resort to using a manual lathe to try and cut the dented ring out, but this proves difficult, leading them to abandon the mechanical repair (06:18-07:19). The focus shifts to an experiment: creating a custom Coca-Cola flavor. William and John, both wearing chef hats and gloves, set up a testing station with a 96-well plate, pipettes, various essential oils, and cans of Coke. They meticulously add 100 microliters of different essential oils into individual Coke samples labeled A1 through E10 (04:25-04:34). After mixing, they taste-test the creations. John finds the Black Pepper/Cherry mix tastes like 'old people's perfume' (02:58-03:01), and another sample smells like 'Irish spring' soap (02:12-02:14). They experiment with various combinations, noting that some smell like candy or need rebalancing. Ultimately, they find a successful combination using 2% Black Pepper, 2% Rose, 2% Cinnamon, 1% Anise Star, 1% Sweet Baby Jesus, and 1% Candy Cane/Ylang Ylang/Myrrh/Clove, which tastes like 'regular Coke' (03:54-04:03, 05:15-05:17). The video concludes with the two celebrating their successful, albeit chaotic, flavor creation.

### Tractor Repair Abandoned

- Failed to remove stuck retaining ring from hydraulic cylinder
- The ring was dented and required precise machining to remove (00:10-00:13)
- They decided to switch projects instead of continuing the repair (07:09-07:16)

### Flavor Experiment Setup

- Used a 96-well plate, pipettes, essential oils (including Black Cherry, Cinnamon, Rose, etc.), and Coca-Cola as the base (04:14-04:34)

### Trial and Error

- Tested various flavor combinations, often resulting in unpleasant tastes like soap/perfume or tasting like plain Coke (02:58-03:01, 03:59-04:03, 05:01-05:05)

### Successful Combination

- Identified a mix containing 2% Black Pepper, 2% Rose, 2% Cinnamon, 1% Anise Star, 1% Sweet Baby Jesus, and 1% Candy Cane/Ylang Ylang/Myrrh/Clove that tasted like a good cola (04:53-05:17, 05:32-05:34)

### Conclusion and Aftermath

- The final taste was deemed a success by John, despite some failed attempts (04:00-04:08, 05:04-05:06)
- The video concludes with them celebrating and then cleaning up the experiment area (05:57-06:17, 39:00-39:20)

![Screenshot at 00:01: Monarch butterfly resting on a large sunflower in William's garden.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ld0g4nVlHPg/00-00-01.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:08: William standing in front of his yellow Ford tractor, which has a broken hydraulic lift.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ld0g4nVlHPg/00-00-08.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:10: William examining the removed hydraulic cylinder component in his workshop.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ld0g4nVlHPg/00-00-10.jpg)
![Screenshot at 02:01: William and Kevin wearing chef whites, discussing the essential oils used for the flavor experiment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ld0g4nVlHPg/00-02-01.jpg)
![Screenshot at 04:14: The table laid out with ingredients: Everclear, various essential oils, Coke cans, a pipette, and a 96-well testing plate.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Ld0g4nVlHPg/00-04-14.jpg)