It’s a shame to tell you that Tom Hanks’ “Diet Cokagne” is pretty good.

It’s not my favorite Ray Davies song, but I’m sure it’s memorable. “I met her in an Old Soho club, where they drink champagne and it tastes like cherry cola” isn’t one of my favorites, but it’s memorable. Tom Hanks is to thank for the first sparkling wine I ever tasted that was precisely like Cherry Cola.

Hanks appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert a few weeks ago to promote his latest film and reveal his favorite adult beverage, the Diet Cokagne. Tom, like myself, doesn’t drink much alcohol. However, he drinks a lot of Diet Coke. He also asked to add a “shot of sparkling wine” to his soda during a festive occasion, creating an original beverage.

It was only natural that I would try it. Diet Coke is the Champagne for Soda. Both are great palate cleaners that go well with fatty and greasy foods. In addition to being a big fan of Diet Coke, I also enjoy wine and sodas, especially in the form of a Kalimotxo. This combines Coca-Cola Classic, red wine, and a bit of sugar. Cokagne, whether it’s Diet or regular, was not something I expected to enjoy. It’s not at all disgusting. It’s delightful.

I made two different versions of this drink–one using Coca-Cola Classic and the other with Diet Coke, my favorite beverage. For the bubbles, I used Trader Joe’s Blanc de Blancs. This seven-dollar French sparkle is dry and tastes better than you would expect for the price. Hanks and Colbert chose Veuve, but I need Veuve’s money. The Cokagne, unlike the mimosa or other cocktails that call for mixing sparkling wine and a flat drink, is aggressively bubbly.

Tom promised that the Diet Cokagne and regular Cokagnes would be a gorgeous amber color, but their flavors were very different. Diet Coke is surprisingly fruity. From the first sip, I knew I had finally figured out what Ray Davies sang about. It was almost like Martinelli’s–apple with a hint of cherry syrup. My palate is used to aspartame after drinking three cans of Diet Coke a day. However, the wine masked the taste. It was surprisingly easy to drink.

The Cokagne with Coke Classic was like a brighter, fruitier, dryer cola. It was pretty good. You can try the Champagne cocktail made with cola bitters if you find mixing sparkling water with Coke too uncouth. But you must at least give the original drink a shot, if only for the novelty. The glass is charming and easy to make, just like Tom Hanks.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert for his new film to promote and share with his favorite adult beverage, The Diet Cokagne. Tom, like myself, doesn’t drink much alcohol. However, he drinks a lot of Diet Coke. He also asked to add a “shot of sparkling wine” to his soda during a festive moment.

It was only natural that I would try it. Diet Coke is the Champagne for Soda. Both are great palate cleaners that go well with fatty and greasy foods. In addition to being a big fan of Diet Coke, I also enjoy wine and sodas, especially in the form of a Kalimotxo. This combines Coca-Cola Classic, red wine, and a bit of sugar. Cokagne, whether it’s Diet or regular, was not something I expected to enjoy. It’s not at all disgusting. It’s delightful.

I made two different versions of this drink–one using Coca-Cola Classic and the other with Diet Coke, my favorite beverage. For the bubbles, I used Trader Joe’s Blanc de Blancs. This seven-dollar French sparkle is dry and tastes better than you would expect for the price. Hanks and Colbert chose Veuve, but I need Veuve’s money. The Cokagne, unlike the mimosa or other cocktails that call for mixing sparkling wine and a flat drink, is effervescent. Both beverages are bubbly.

Tom promised that the Diet Cokagne and regular Cokagne were amber-colored, but their flavors were very different. Diet Coke is surprisingly fruity. From the first sip, I knew I had finally figured out what Ray Davies sang about. It was almost like Martinelli’s–a little appley with a hint of cherry syrup. My palate is used to aspartame after drinking three cans of Diet Coke a day. However, the wine masked the taste. It was surprisingly easy to drink.

The Cokagne with Coke Classic was like a brighter, fruitier, dryer cola. It was pretty good. You can try the Champagne cocktail made with cola bitters if you find mixing sparkling water with Coke too uncouth. But you must at least give the original drink a shot, if only for the novelty. The glass is charming and easy to make, just like Tom Hanks.