Blenheim Ginger Ale facts for kids
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| Type | Soft drink |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Blenheim Bottling Company |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | 1903 |
| Color | Golden |
| Flavor | Ginger |
| Variants | Old #3 Hot, #5 Not as Hot, #9 Diet |
Blenheim Ginger Ale is a special kind of ginger ale. It's bottled in Hamer, South Carolina, but it first started in Blenheim, South Carolina. This fizzy drink has a long history in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. It was first made by a doctor in the 1890s. He mixed ginger and sugar with local spring water. He gave it to people to help with stomach aches.
Contents
The Story of Blenheim Ginger Ale
How It All Began
The story of Blenheim Ginger Ale starts way back in 1781. During the American Revolutionary War, a Patriot named James Spears was running from the British. His shoe got stuck in the mud near a natural spring. When he came back for his shoe, he noticed the water in the hole it left. He tasted the water and found it had a strong mineral taste.
News of this special spring spread quickly. Soon, the area became popular with wealthy plantation owners. By the late 1800s, a small town grew up around the spring.
A Doctor's Idea
In the late 1890s, a doctor named C. R. May started using the spring water. He gave it to his patients who had stomach problems. But his patients often complained about the water's strong, iron-like taste. So, Dr. May decided to make it taste better. He added ginger from Jamaica and sugar to the water.
People loved this new drink! It became very popular. In 1903, Dr. May teamed up with A. J. Matheson. They opened the Blenheim Bottling Company.
Building the Bottling Plant
The company's plant was built in 1920. It was conveniently located right next to the mineral springs. For 90 years, the company stayed small. They produced only about 18 to 20 cases of ginger ale each day.
A New Owner
In 1993, a man named Alan Schafer bought Blenheim. He also owned a famous roadside attraction called South of the Border. The original bottling plant was old. So, Schafer decided to move the bottling operations. He built a new plant next to South of the Border.
Blenheim Ginger Ale Today
Blenheim Ginger Ale is still made using the same recipe. This recipe has not changed in over 110 years! The company now ships its spicy ginger ale to 44 states. It also ships to three international distributors.
Many food lovers really enjoy this unique drink. A journalist once described its taste. He said the first sip could make you sneeze. But the second sip would clear your sinuses. It would also leave your tongue and throat feeling warm and tingly.
Different Flavors
Blenheim offers three different types of ginger ale:
- #3 Hot: This one has a pink cap and is the spiciest.
- #5 Not As Hot: This one has a gold cap and is a bit milder.
- #9 Diet: This one has a white cap and is a diet version.
Blenheim in the News
Blenheim Ginger Ale has been featured in the news.
- Charles Kuralt did a story on Blenheim Ginger Ale. It was for his CBS show On the Road with Charles Kuralt in 1983.
- The magician Penn Jillette is a big fan of Blenheim Ginger Ale. He even wore a Blenheim shirt on the cover of Wired Magazine.
