Sometimes at work we make up new martini flavors that we think people would like. Some are a success (the My Birthday Cake, which tastes like a piece of birthday cake), and some are not (the cereal martini which used Godiva White Chocolate liquor and had corn flakes floating in it and...well...yeah).

The other day at work Dan and I were experimenting and we came up with one that tasted like Kiwi Strawberry Snapple. "We should name it the Tastes Like Snapple," I suggested. The one problem with that is that we'd be using the name Snapple, which is a registered trademark. "I wonder if we can use it," Dan said.

The next day I called up 1-800-SNAPPLE and asked them that question. "Um, I really don't know," the woman replied, and suggested I call their corporate headquarters. I called corporate and asked them the same question and they forwarded my call to the head of some department, where I left a message explaining, "Hi, my name is Josh Eisenberg, I'm the bar manager at a martini bar in Chicago, and we've made a martini that tastes like Kiwi Strawberry Snapple, and we wanted to call it the Tastes Like Snapple, but we didn't know if using the name Snapple in the title was some sort of legal issue. If you could give me a call back that'd be great."

Then this morning at 8:30 I got a call. Who could this be? I thought. It was Snapple.

Woman: I'm sorry, but we can't have our name be used with the drink.
Me: I understand.
Woman: But we do think it's really cool that you came up with a drink that tastes like Snapple.
Me: Thanks.
Woman: If you don't mind, can you tell me what's in it?
Me: Sure, it's Bacardi Limon, strawberry liquor, melon liquor, and lemonade.
Woman: Snapple lemonade?
Me: No, just normal lemonade.
Woman: Hmm. We'll have to make that over here one day. That is, not at work of course. pause After work.
Me: Of course.

"Who was that calling this early?" Micah asked when I got off the phone. "Oh, that was Snapple," I said. Micah nodded in understanding but then looked confused. "I'm not going to ask."

So right now one of two things is happening: Either a research and development crew over at Snapple corporate is getting hammered and going "It does taste like Snapple!" or Snapple is going to develop a line of alcoholic drinks and steal my idea. Either way, remember that you heard it here first.