Visitors Soft Drinks And Sodas Suggestions And Comments

misterron commented on
This Week’s Softdrink – Dr.Brown’s
Above all, you must get your hands on some Blenheim Ginger Ale (preferably the Extra Hot). It’s best to drink it right out of a chilled bottle, but the effect is almost as extreme over ice. The stuff is legendary, and difficult to find in grocery stores outside the Carolinas, but you can order it by mail. Their factory is run by three or four guys, as it has been for around a hundred years. Fan web sites were produced years before the company started their own. Once you’ve tried it, you will appreciate the incredible film of be found on YouTube of a young man chugging an entire bottle. It makes Vernor’s taste like weak tea. Search for it, find it, and taste it!

KathrynIngrid from artcoloredglasses
on Fresca
Fresca is one of the few grapefruit-flavored things I’ve liked since I was young (and cyclamates were still all the rage, so it’s no wonder I’ve turned out the way I did, eh!). I suspect that much of the reasoning behind making that soda grapefruit-centric was to disguise the bitter and ‘off’ flavors so many kinds of artificial and “diet” sweeteners give things. But now, I’m thinking I’ll have to pop in to one of our Hispanic groceries nearby to see if they carry Mexican Fresca. One of the truly *good* things about having moved to Texas is that there’s no shortage of Mexican foods and ingredients readily available. 🙂 Thankfully, that’s becoming the norm all over the country; even back near Seattle (our roots), there’s a huge Mexican community that grew, literally and figuratively, out of the migrant farm workers’ arrival, so there are tons of great Mexican resources both in restaurants and groceries around there as well. 😀

Meanwhile, I can’t remember if I’d mentioned Jarritos to you before, but through one of our local Washington eateries we got to know that Mexican brand of soda, and besides that it’s generally sugar sweetened rather than HFCS or Splenda or anything else of that kind, it’s got some good flavors that are either entirely natural in origin or combine natural flavor infusions with the ever-popular lab esters. They do a very nice grapefruit soda. And a bunch of other very tasty flavors. And they have a truly delightful website (http://www.jarritos.com) that has some of their excellent vintage ads and images integrated, something I’ll bet you’ll find very refreshing! 😀

Cheers, Ted!
Kathryn

KathrynIngrid from artcoloredglasses

On Jarritos
Jarritos Mandarina, as I learned at our favorite Mexican restaurant in western Washington state (a region, by the way, that has a large number of Mexican restaurants, both chain and independent, that were all founded by people born and raised in the same small Mexican town and trained as chefs by the same amazing lady) is pretty much my favorite orange soda. It actually *does* taste like mandarin orange juice. With fizz. 🙂

On Dr Pepper
I hadn’t had a chance to try Dublin, or cane sugar, Dr Pepper until moving to Texas. Like many other sodas, Dr Pepper is indeed much tastier with real sugar than with HFCS.

On Vernor’s
I’m a longtime fan of Vernor’s, too—my mother grew up in Michigan with it, so her west-coast-born children were introduced to the elixir later in life when we visited the midwest with Mom. Delicious stuff!

 KathrynIngrid at artcoloredglasses on Green River
As far as I can tell, Green River is now distributed nationwide, in groceries and sweet shops across the US, again, and it tastes pretty much as I remember it from the 1960s. My first memories of Green River were not of a bottled pop, but of a true soda-fountain phosphate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphate_soda) that was hand-mixed and served by the soda jerks. It tasted pretty much like the bottled stuff but had the extra allure of the handmade alchemy practiced at the fountain, so that was a special treat when I was a kid. There is a wonderful, popular ice cream parlor where I live in Denton, Texas, that makes a wide variety of fantastic homemade ice cream flavors and other soda fountain classics; though one can order a Green River phosphate there, I suspect that nowadays it’s merely a combination of Green River syrup and plain sparkling water, not much different from the so-called Italian Sodas sold practically everywhere in the US but still slightly nostalgic to me because of the mere Green River name.

The name also carries a less savory memory for me, as I grew up in Washington state, in the area where an actual Green River (though more brown and muddy most of the time, in practice if not in name) became the notorious dumping-ground for the prolific serial killer Gary Ridgway, who is still better known as the Green River Killer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Ridgway). I don’t know what, if any, effect that horrible case and the publicity surrounding it ever had on the company producing what was a completely unrelated and sugary-sweet soda pop, but I imagine there are others like me who lived there at the time and found the name a bit unsettling for a while. It’s long enough ago that the sensationalism of the crime and reportage are far beyond the reach of any young people, the target audience of consumers who have done as much as we nostalgic “oldsters” have done to create the contemporary craze for ‘retro’ sodas that has helped the good old lime pop revisit its glory days.

Bottoms up!
Kathryn

Brian kilgore on Nesbitt’s Orange Soda and Nugrape
This mail arrived to day – Ted
Good morning, Gentlemen
Ted, meet Robert, who is a video producer, director, creator who lives near Toronto and has a working jukebox.
Robert, meet Ted, who lives in Oslo and knows lots about old things, including pop bottles.
This message is inspired by a converstation Robert and I had last week about Nesbitt’s Orange, which I used to drink during the summer at the golf club in Moncton, New Brunswick, when I was 7-12, more or less, when visiting Moncton each summer.
Here’s a page (from Ted’s site) covering two kinds of pop from my youth, both with special bottles.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?60415-Classic-softdrinks-NuGrape-and-Nesbitt%92s-Orange-Flavoured-Soda-Pop
Nesbitt’s Orange was not all that common in Toronto, but it was my favorite at the golf club in Moncton. Exotic ebcause of the bottle design, and “California” in the promotion line.(1953-58)
And NuGrape was a Toronto favorite, extracted most often from a big water-filled cooler at Sandy’s Variety Store near where the Capitol Events facility is on Yonge Street, a few blocks of Eglinton.

BRIAN A. KILGORE

Olivia Davis commented on Wink Grapefruit Soft Drink
I am in my 60s now and have drank WINK for more than 40 years. However, I am currently having a problem locating it in the Wilmington, NC area. Why and can you help?
From where I’m sitting in Oslo, Norway it’s hard to say, so I can’t help you there. Can anyone else? – Ted

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Dan Webb suggests Vernor’s Ginger Ale and Faygo: 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 Dan, Faygo was already on my list, I just haven’t gotten there yet, but Vernor’s Ginger Ale was new to me – Ted 🙂
Russ Strathdee at rstrathdee asks: I guess Red Bull may not be regarded as a “soft” drink. Is that right? – And he is right it is not a soft drink in the full meaning of the world, but it may end up being presented here sooner or later any way – Ted
Robert Naughton from HomeProject suggests Quatro – sparkling soft drink  and writes: Quatro – sparkling soft drink with a mix of fruit flavors…Used to love it… now I cant get it. Quatro has been added to my list of sodas to present, and by the way it is still sold in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and Venezuela – Ted

Lotgk from Grassy Knoll Institute on different sodas + suggesting Shasta
In my town, Youngstown, Ohio, there used to be a gas station on the corner and they sold orange, grape, and root beer flavoured pop. (Soda) They were 10 cents a bottle. Grape was the best.
Also, Lawsons sold Shasta brand colo, the cola and root beer flavor was very good, and very cheap – Shasta added to list of sodas to present – Ted

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lotgk added in a new comment
BTW, that corner gas station, the pop brand was Nehi brand. Forget to put that in.
Golden Dawn beverage was pretty good pop as well. They had lemon, grape, cherry, orange, cola, cream ale, root beer, and assorted others.
Nehi is already on my list 🙂 But I couldn’t find one word on or one picture of any Golden Dawn sodas. Pity, nice name – Ted
Brian Robinson on Alkawther
My father was a serviceman in Aden (Yemen) in 1959. I remember a delicious fizzy drink called Alkawther. I think it was a fruit flavoured drink. Anybody know anything about it? I vaguely remember it was a European product – Austrian? That’s probably a red herring.
A little checking around showed that Alkawther is still produced and that it comes from Baghdad in Iraq. They produce severel types of citrus flavoured soft drinks – Ted
Ronn Tull on Bubble Up
Found some Bubble Up at the market yesterday. Bought all there was..only 17 bottles. Brought back GOOD taste memories. Would love to see it for sale everywhere once again.

Suggestions from Ice Chest Coolers at truebluecoolers.com
All of those bottled soft drinks are best chilled with ice coolers. Have you heard about Dr. Tima Cola, Virgil’s, Journey Ancient, Eric’s Famous, and Boyland? Hope those would help as far as I could remember them – Suggestions added to the list – Ted

fortworthgal from Fedora Lounge on Grapette 
Interesting! Around here you can still buy Grapette and Orangette at most Wal-Mart stores. They’ve been around since I believe the 1930s.

Hawkcigar from Fedora Lounge on Nesbitt’s sodas
Nesbitt’s sodas were pretty popular here in the midwest when I was a kid back in the 60’s. One of the few positive memories I have of my dad was having strawberry floats with Nesbitt’s strawberry soda and vanilla ice cream. Good stuff!

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mflemming from Fedora Lounge on Green River
I remember liking it as a kid. I tried it again when it came back out in the 2 liter plastic bottles but it didn’t taste like anything at all.

Ethan Bentley from Fedora Lounge on Green River
Sounds rather interesting, I imagine it’s a bit like British Limeade

Tyler Lange from Fedora Lounge on Green River
Howdy! Saw your post on the Fedora Lounge, thought I’d shoot over and tell you that Green River can also be found at the 50’s throwback diner Bo-Bo’s in Vernon Hills, Illinois.but be warned, refills are 25 cents a cup!!

V.C. Brunswick from Fedora Lounge suggests
I remember Simba – And Simba is added to the list of sodas to present – Ted

LoveMyHats2 from Fedora Lounge on Bubble Up
I recall those from the machines you would “slide” them out after paying the machine that was a chest!

HoosierDaddy from Fedora Lounge on Bubble Up
I’ve never had a ‘Bubble Up’…but I have had many of Coka Cola’s ‘Lemon Soda’ in the little 5 cent glass bottles years ago.

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JayGatsby from Fedora Lounge on Bubble Up
My father brought home a display bottle of Bubble Up a long time ago. That is, there’s no gas, it’s just a liquid. (Water? Isoproypl Alcohol?) I’ll have to ask him where he got it. I want to say a thrift store… Nice to see someones keeping track of all these old sodas.

Mark on Rc Cola aka Royal Crown Cola
I’ve solved the debate that was created by “Wikepedia” the free encyclopedia(more like the libtarded tabloid with no editors or fact checkers). Well it seems the gentleman here is correct about who was in the comercial. Chris Carmichael won a clio award for that commericial and it was definately Kelly Moran. You can check it out on Ubiuity broadcasting

Kelly’s Husband on Rc Cola aka Royal Crown Cola
The girl riding the skateboard in the Rc Cola Commercial (was not Sharon Stone). It was in fact Kelly Moran. Kelly toured the U.S. for 4 years representing Rc Cola. Leave me a E-mailaddress and I gladly send you a copy of Rc cola Flyer with Kelly on the skateboard, and the cover of Skateboard Magazine.

AtomicEraTom on Fedora Lounge on Bubble Up
I still drink Bubble Up now and then – It is nice to know 7UP hasn’t put it completely in the shadow – Ted

SGT Rocket on Fedora Lodge suggests
How about Grape Nehi, I think they had orange as well. When I grew up in Texas, every soft-drink was a coke. If you ordered a coke, the waittress would say “what kind.” I would then reply grape nehi or cream soda or whatnot – Nehi has been added to list of sodas to present – Ted

reclaiming ryan  at reclaimingryan. wordpress.com
on RC Cola aka Royal CrownCola
For some reason it is pretty hard to find here in South Dakota, even though there are a lot of Dr Pepper Snapple grp offerings readily available.

Funny story–a friend of mine and I were down south and someone ordered a “Crown and Crown”.  We thought this was a just a guy trying to be funny ordering a double shot, but figured out that he was asking for RC and Crown Royal.

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reclaiming ryan  at reclaimingryan. wordpress.com on Squirt
My all time favorite.  I love the tartness and how it isn’t sickening sweet like some citrus flavored sodas can be.  I remember thumbing through some old Life magazines at a flea market once and seeing an old add that said “How sweet it isn’t!”

Robbie Moon on Pommac
How can I get Pommac? I`ve talked to lots of people who want to get this drink again. Please tell me what I can do to start getting it here in U.s again.

LizzieM from the Fedora Lodge on Orange Crush
Orange Crush was very popular here in the Northeast US, in both cans and bottles. It was distributed here by Pepsi, which made it much easier to find than it might be in other places. It’s still around here, but it doesn’t show up as much as it used to, and I don’t think Pepsi distributes it anymore.

Shannon Moeser at onmemories. wordpress.com on Orange Crush

 I loved Orange Crush as a child and young adolescent (from about 1945 to 1955).  I wouldn’t drink Coca-cola because I didn’t like anything with caffeine in it.  Then I started drinking 7 UP and liked it better.  When I tried Orange Crush in my twenties, I found it too sickly sweet.

When I moved to the U.S.A., I didn’t see much Orange Crush.  It was more popular in Canada, I think.