What is ale 8?

What is Ale-8 soda? If you are from the South, you probably already know what this popular soda drink is and have tasted it before, but soda lovers from other regions will need a little introduction.

Ale-8 soda is a staple in almost every home in Kentucky and the pride of locals, as it is the only existing soft drink invented in Kentucky ever.

You will find locals drinking it at wedding ceremonies, on casual hikes through nature, and even formal events.

A Brief History Of Ale-8

The formula for Ale-8 soda was created by soda bottler George Lee Wainscott in 1926.

Wainscott was a man with many unconventional and innovative ideas, so he established his bottling company in 1902 after he first saw a carbonation machine.

His first attempt at making signature soda was a cola product called Roxa-Kola, named after his wife Roxanne.

The drink became so popular in the cola market that Coca-Cola filed a lawsuit against the company.

Although Wainscott won the lawsuit and appeal, he chose to cease production to prevent further confrontations.

After bottling drinks many drinks in Winchester, Kentucky for many years, he decided to develop a formula for a unique drink.

His research landed him in Europe where he tasted his first ginger beer and he began experimenting until he developed his own unique ginger drink with a kick.

Wainscott launched his product on July 13, 1926, and sponsored one of the first-ever naming contests in Kentucky to choose a name for the brand.

The winning entry was “A Late One,” an old slang for the latest soft drinks.

The formula remains a family secret passed down from generation to generation.

One of the unique properties of Ale-8 soda is its ginger and citrus blend that contains less carbonation and fewer calories than regular soda.

Asides from enjoying your ale 8 soda straight from the bottle, there are several uses for the soft drink, including for cooking dishes and as mixers for cocktails, and mocktails.

Food

Some chefs and restaurants use Ale-8 soda to make sauces, vinaigrettes for salads, braise for lambs, marinades for chicken, and sweeteners for potato salad dressings.

Cocktails

Some of the notable cocktail recipes you can create with an Ale-8 soda include:

1. A Late Irish (Ale-8 soda, raspberry vodka, cranberry pomegranate juice, and raspberries).
2. Ale-8 Mojo (Ale-8 soda, Ale-8 infused simple syrup, gin, mint leaves, orange slices).
3. Blackberry Mint Smash (Ale-8 soda, bourbon, Ale-8 infused simple syrup, blackberries, lime wedges, and mint leaves).
4. Bluegrass Burro ( Ale-8, vodka, Ale-8 infused simple syrup, lime slices).
5. Bracing Spritz (Ale-8, Aperol, Prosecco).
6. Burley Temple (Ale-8, Kentucky bourbon, grenadine, maraschino cherry).
7. Category 8 (Ale-8, Ale-8 infused simple syrup, spiced rum, orange slice).
8. Cherry Margarita (Cherry Ale-8, agave, tequila, fresh lime juice).
9. Jubil8 (Ale-8, Ale-8 infused simple syrup, bourbon, minced leaves, crushed ice).
10. Love Potion #8 (Cherry Ale-8, strawberry puree, vanilla vodka, chocolate bitters, strawberries).
11. South of the Bluegrass (Ale-8, tequila, triple sec, orange juice, black raspberry liqueur).
12. The Commonwealth (Ale-8, mint leaves, Pimms No. 1, Bombay Sapphire).
13. You Had Me At Ale-8 (Ale-8, raspberry, raspberry vodka, cranberry pomegranate juice).

Mocktails

Notable mocktails you can make with Ale-8 soda includes:

1. Ale-8 Pumpkin Spice & All Things Nice (Ale-8, Reàl pumpkin puree, cinnamon, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, apple slice).
2. Blackberry Mint Smash (Ale-8 infused simple syrup, blackberries, mint leaves).
3. Classic Holiday Cheer (Ale-8, lime sherbet).
4. Mock Mint Julep (Ale-8, fresh lemon juice, cold water, mint sprigs, sugar, lemon slices).
5. Skinny Berry Fizz (Ale-8 Zero, diet sparkling cranberry juice, diet cran-raspberry juice, fresh lime).
6. The Wainscott (Cherry Ale-8, fresh orange juice, fresh lime juice, fresh lemon juice).
7. White Christmas (Ale-8, Ale-8 infused simple syrup, lemon juice, grape juice, rosemary).

Because of its versatile flavor, Ale-8 has something for every type of soda drinker.

There are currently six varieties of Ale-8 soda on the market.

They include:

1. The Original
2. Heritage
3. Cherry
4. Ale-8 Zero Sugar
5. Caffeine-Free Ale-8 Zero Sugar
6. Cherry Ale-8 Zero

1. The Original.

Is ale 8 ginger ale ?This is a lightly carbonated soda drink made with real citrus and ginger.

Its flavor pops in the mouth, especially when chilled. Ingredients include carbonated water, vegetable glycerine, natural and artificial flavors, sugar and corn sweetener, ginger, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caffeine, phosphoric acid, caramel coloring.

2. Heritage.

Ale-8 Heritage is made with all-natural flavors, real sugar, and the same secret family recipe as The Original.

Ingredients include carbonated water, vegetable glycerine, natural flavors, ginger, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caffeine, phosphoric acid, caramel coloring.

3. Cherry.

In 2018, Ale-8-One launched its first new flavor since they launched in 1926. It involves a blend of the secret Ale-8 formula and sweet, ripe cherries to create a bright and bold cherry drink with just a hint of citrus and ginger.

The ingredients used include carbonated water, vegetable glycerine, natural flavors, fruit and vegetable juice (color), ginger, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caffeine, phosphoric acid.

4. Ale-8 Zero Sugar.

In 2003, Ale-8 deviated from the norm to produce a sugar-free variant of the popular soda. Ale-8 Zero Sugar is carefully developed to contain zero sugar, zero, calories, and zero aspartame without compromising its quality and taste.

The ingredients used include carbonated water, vegetable glycerine, natural and artificial flavors, ginger, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caffeine, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, phosphoric acid, potassium citrate, caramel coloring.

5. Caffeine Free Ale-8 Zero Sugar.

Soda-lovers who want to enjoy drinking Ale-8 without worrying about the consumption of caffeine can take the Caffeine-Free Ale-8 Zero Sugar soda instead. It contains no sugar, no calories, and no caffeine. Caffeine in ale 8 is almost zero.

The ingredients used in making it include carbonated water, vegetable glycerine, natural and artificial flavors, ginger, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), sucralose, acesulfame potassium, phosphoric acid, potassium citrate, caramel coloring.

6. Cherry Ale-8 Zero.

This is a sugar-free variant of the Cherry Ale-8. Ingredients include carbonated water, vegetable glycerine, natural flavors, fruit and vegetable flavors (colors), ginger, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caffeine, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, phosphoric acid, potassium citrate.

Does ale8 have caffeine? Ale-8 has 37mg of caffeine per 12 fl oz bottle and 3.08mg per fl oz (10.43mg/100ml), which ranks pretty low when compared to other sodas. Its caffeine content is only slightly higher than that of Coca-Cola.

Source: Caffeine Informer

Although Ale-8 contains almost the same ingredients as Coke, it is not a product of Coca-Cola. However, Coca-Cola has an agreement to distribute Ale-8 soda to 61 counties in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Does Ale-8 Soda Contain Allergens?

None of the varieties of Ale-8 soda contains any of the major food allergens – fish, eggs, milk, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, tree nuts, crustacean shellfish. All of the natural and artificial flavors that make up the secret formula have gone through refining processes that should allergen proteins if present before processing.

Is Ale-8 Alcoholic?

Ale-8 is not alcoholic, although it can serve as a mixer for cocktails.

What Does Ale-8 Taste Like?

Ale-8 has a syrupy ginger ale taste with a spicy undertone and less fizziness when compared with other similar products.