Thirsty for nostalgia? 'Ghostbusters'-inspired Ecto Cooler coming back - CNET

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If you were a fan of the "Ghostbusters" movies or "The Real Ghostbusters" cartoon series in the 1980s, chugging Ecto Cooler was probably a big part of your childhood.

The "Ghostbusters"-inspired Hi-C drink, a valuable commodity in school cafeterias, tasted like an orange and had the color of bright green ectoplasm. Just one of the juice boxes could help any kid leverage high-priced trades for delicious snacks with the ruthless efficiency of a Goldman-Sachs day trader.

Unfortunately, Hi-C's popular drink didn't last forever and some fans have been lobbying for its comeback. With Paul Feig's new "Ghostbusters" reboot heading to theaters in July, Minute Maid parent company Coca-Cola decided the time was right to bring back the slime-inspired beverage. The company announced Monday that Ecto Cooler will go on sale again starting May 30.

Ecto Cooler will be available in two forms in this plane of existence. The newest version will be sold in a 10-pack of 6-ounce juice boxes and a 12-pack of 11.5-ounce aluminum cans. The cans are for adults who want to experience the taste of their childhood without looking like a grownup who's been possessed by the spirit of a child.

Hi-C first put Ecto Cooler on store shelves in 1986 as part of a promotional deal for "The Real Ghostbusters" syndicated cartoon series. The animated series lasted for seven seasons but the shelf life (no pun intended) of Ecto Cooler lasted all the way to 2001, when Hi-C chose to discontinue the product and sell it under the flavor name Shoutin' Orange Tangergreen, according to Mental Floss.