Coca-Cola makes largest ice cream float

The world's largest beverage maker, Coca-Cola, created a 10-ton ice cream float to break a world record set by the company nearly a decade ago.

Photo: Coca-Cola makes largest ice cream float

An official from Guinness World Records was on hand Friday to confirm that the 3,000-gallon (11,355-liter) float, made from Vanilla Coke and ice cream, had indeed set the new world record.

The Coca-Cola Co. had also held the previous world record for largest ice cream float - 2,085 gallons (7,890 liters) - that was set in 1998 in Atlanta, said Guinness representative Derek Musso. He said he was not aware of any other attempts to break the former record.

A tanker truck from the Atlanta-based company's syrup plant pumped a non-carbonated mixture into a specially made 15-foot-(4.5-meter-)high glass containing a device that carbonated the beverage. Workers then dropped buckets full of ice cream into the top of the glass by hand.

The event commemorated the soft drink giant's relaunch of Vanilla Coke, said Coke spokesman Scott Williamson. It was held next to the new World of Coca-Cola museum, which opened Thursday.

Although Guinness World Records officials required the float to be certified as drinkable by health inspectors, the 10-ton float was not served to the estimated 300 people who witnessed the event, Williamson said.

Instead, it was to be removed and disposed of by a garbage company. Coke provided separate, free ice cream float samples from a nearby kiosk.

A float is a cold carbonated beverage with ice cream floating on top.