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 by Blenheim Bottlers in Hamer, South Carolina, United States. This fizzy drink has a long history. It started in the late 1800s as a health tonic. A local doctor mixed Jamaica ginger and sugar with mineral water. He gave it to people for stomach aches.
Contents
The Story of Blenheim Ginger Ale
A Lucky Discovery
The story of Blenheim Ginger Ale began a long time ago. In 1781, during the American Revolutionary War, a soldier named James Spears was running from the British. His shoe got stuck in the mud near a natural spring. He had to leave it behind and keep running.
When he came back, he found his shoe. He also noticed water filling the hole his shoe had made. He tasted this water. It had a very strong mineral flavor! Soon, many people heard about this special spring. Wealthy landowners started visiting the area. By the late 1800s, a small town grew around it.
From Medicine to Drink
In the late 1890s, a doctor named C. R. May used this spring water. He gave it to his patients who had stomach problems. But the water tasted very strong, like iron. So, Dr. May decided to make it taste better. He added Jamaica ginger and sugar to the water.
People loved this new mix! It became very popular. In 1903, Dr. May teamed up with A. J. Matheson. They opened the Blenheim Bottling Company. The company's plant was built in 1920. It was right next to the mineral springs. For 90 years, the company stayed small. They made only about 18 to 20 cases of ginger ale each day.
A New Owner
In 1993, Alan Schafer bought Blenheim. He also owned South of the Border, a famous roadside attraction. The old bottling plant was very old. So, Schafer decided to move the bottling to a new plant. This new plant was built next to South of the Border.
Blenheim Ginger Ale Today
Blenheim ginger ale is not sold everywhere. It's mostly found in the Carolinas. But in recent years, the company has grown. They now ship their ginger ale to 44 states. They also send it to three other countries.
This spicy ginger ale has a special group of fans. Food and drink experts especially love it. In 1998, a journalist named Bill Grimes wrote about its taste. He said the first sip could make you sneeze! He also said it would clear your sinuses. It would leave your tongue and throat feeling warm and tingly.
Luckily for its fans, Blenheim's recipe has not changed. It's been the same for over 110 years! You can choose from three different kinds:
- #3 Hot (it has a pink cap)
- #5 Not As Hot (it has a gold cap)
- #9 Diet (it has a white cap)
In the News
- Charles Kuralt talked about Blenheim Ginger Ale on CBS. This was for his show On the Road with Charles Kuralt in 1983.
- Penn Jillette is a big fan of Blenheim Ginger Ale. He even wore a Blenheim shirt on the cover of Wired Magazine.
- There was an article called Behind Blenheim's. It was published by Turner South in 2005.
