After having run this blog for a while I realised that I had posted several posts on classic soft drinks and that this might be the start of a rather long lasting project. I began reading up on the subject and found that both on Wikipedia and on other pages there were a lot of information on classic sodas and soft drinks. Google also provided a lot of images that could illustrate the posts. Well, I’m not a man who thinks long and hard on anything so the list of sodas and soft drinks waiting to be presented in separate posts now features well over 60. The project is well on it’s way.
Soft Drinks – History, Origin And Timeline
And I need your help here visitors, both in suggesting sodas and soft drinks from around the world and in giving your opinion on the ones presented already if you know the product. And you can start by giving your opinion on the ones posted already or reading what other visitors have written by clicking the links below – Ted
List of Soft drinks and sodas posted already
You’ll also find a list at the bottom here
Visitors soft drinks and sodas suggestions and comments
Sun Crest
Spring Grove Soda
Ting, Jamaican Grapefruit Soda
Vernors Ginger Ale
Wink Grapefruit Soda
Hires Root Beer
Mission Orange Soda
White Rock Beverages
Afri-Cola – German Soft Drink
Teem Lemon-Lime Soda
Grapico Grape Soda
Ingo Läsk (later called Zigo) – Swedish soft drink
Cheerwine Cherry Soda
Whistle Orange Soda
R. White’s Lemonade
Clicquot Club Ginger Ale
La Casera – Traditional Spanish Soft Drink
Norwegian Julebrus (Christmas soda)
Swedish Julmust (Christmas soda)
Red Rock Cola & Red Rock Ginger Ale
Sinalco
NuGrape
Nesbitt’s Orange-Flavoured Soda Pop
Dad’s Root Beer
Orangina
Vimto
Green River
Double Cola
Bubble Up
Canada Dry
Mountain Dew
Fentiman’s Curiosity Cola
Squirt
Orange Crush
Jolly Cola - A Danish Soft Drink
Pommac – A Swedish Soft Drink
Green Spot
Solo – A Norwegian Soft Drink
RC Cola aka Royal Crown Cola
Dr Pepper
Moxie
You are missing Vernor’s Ginger Ale, a Detroit Michigan product since 1866 that is still in production today and is considered by some sources as the oldest surviving soft drink in the U.S.
Vernor’s was created by James Vernor, a Detroit pharmacist who was looking for a new, non alcoholic beverage based upon the ginger beers that were popular in Britain.
The story goes that Vernor came up with his own version in1862, but as the Civil War was raging, he left the formula inside an oak barrel and left his pharmacy to join the Michigan Cavalry.
During the war, Vernor served with distinction and returned to Detroit, where he remember his creation, opened the barrel and found that the ginger ale was not only well preserved, but had picked up a highly unique scent and flavor. He started marking it at his shop shortly after and continued the practice of maturing the drink in oak barrels,
Vernor’s was primarily a “Michigan thing” for over a century, though it had some popularity throughout the Midwest and parts of Canada. It has in more recent times become available throughout most of the United States (I even found it in Texas while visiting San Antonio).
Sadly, Vernor’s original formula has changed dramatically over the years and is just a watered down version of the drink I enjoyed just twenty years ago as is contains less natural ingredients, less carbon and now uses high fructose corn syrup.
Another local popular drink that has seen increased sales outside the Midwest is Faygo (founded in 1907), which is famous for it’s many flavors, including “Rock and Rye” and “Red Pop.” Recently, Faygo reintroduced their product in specialty glass bottles and made with real cane sugar, which is enough to make any Michigander over the age of 35 relive their childhood with a single sip.
There is also a highly memorial Faygo commerical from the 1970s featuring “The Great Gildersleeve,” featuring locals on a boat ride to the once famous Boblo Island Amusement Park.
Thanks a lot for the suggestions Dan, they have been added to the list of suggestions and comments:
http://retrorambling.wordpress.com/articles/misc-articles/visitors-soft-drinks-and-sodas-suggestions-and-comments/