Taste Test: Taco Bell Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos

Taste Test: Taco Bell Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos (ABC News)

The fabled Cool Ranch Doritos taco is headed our way on March 7, according to the most official sources possible on the matter: both Taco Bell's Twitter account and canieatacoolranchtacoyet.com.

The move is no surprise. Fans have been clamoring for the flavor since Nacho Cheesier tacos were introduced in March 2012. Taco Bell sold 100 million of the chip-dust-infused tacos in their first 10 weeks on the market, making the product the most successful item the restaurant has ever introduced. Parent company Yum Brands even saw a jump in profits to the tune of 73 percent in the first quarter of 2012 thanks to the flavored fervor brought on by Locos Tacos.

So how does the new Cool Ranch Doritos Locos taco hold up to the original Nacho Cheesier version? In order to find out, we had to jump through a few hoops.

Word leaked out this afternoon that a flower shop in Manhattan's Meatpacking District was offering Cool Ranch tacos to any passerby who had the password, "blue bouquet.

"With the half-hour until the offer would be taken off the table, we scrambled into action to get to the location, running from the subways and down the block, arriving at the very last minute of the promotion.

We made it just in time and were the last to score the coveted taco before the pop-up shop closed up shop. The tacos were presented in a bed of flowers (because, why not) by a woman at a counter vaguely disguised as a florist.

Carefully unwrapping and photographing one of the tacos, like one might for an Apple iPhone, we noted the paper taco-holding shell's design - as blue as the Cool Ranch chip bag - as well as the signature red and green flecks of Cool Ranch flavoring gracing the outside of the taco's shell.

A single "hot" flavor packet was offered with the treat. Once applied, the taste test began. It was hot, even though the nearest Taco Bell couldn't have been less than a mile away. The Cool Ranch flavoring mingled nicely with the taco's meat and cheese. This was no Taco Supreme but one could imagine sour cream working nicely, as well, in the taco.

Cool Ranch chips are a lighter flavor than Nacho Cheesier or Spicy Sweet Chili, so the taste was subtle and not particularly mind-blowing. It was familiar and it worked, but it could have certainly been improved with a cold Mountain Dew; a staple for any Taco Bell trip and a personal favorite with a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.

Now, a Spicy Sweet Chili taco - that would be a uniquely flavored treat. Perhaps, some day, once these flagship Doritos tacos have run their course.

Knowing the odd combinations and weird ideas the chain has come up with recently ( Taco Bell for breakfast?), nothing is really outside the realm of possibility.

If anything, Taco Bell did a real service in hosting the event at a floral shop on the day before Valentine's Day. It reminded me to get a bouquet of flowers (and some Taco Bell) for my wife (pictured, left). Happy Valentine's Day!