The almond-based cherry flavoring gives it a very unique flavor. If you want a good conversation in the South (especially North Carolina and very specifically historic Salisbury, NC), just bring up Cheerwine. Cheerwines official fan club, Cheerwine Authentic Soda Society, was formed in 2015. For decades, this Salisbury-born beverage has offered the pop-top promise of a surprisingly carbonated cherry concoctiona promise that has won the company both a loyal local following and a noticeable national future. A Prohibition-era flavor from a soda company beloved by Detroiters and Juggalos. But though the sugary beverage remains a mystery to most people who werent born in North Carolina, the soda is slowly but surely creeping onto store shelves across the rest of the country, thanks to the demands of loyal fans and a determined marketing department. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The so-called "Nectar of North Carolina" was such a hit that he started to sell it to other stores and then expanded from there, founding the Carolina Beverage Corporation & Cheerwine Bottling Company to keep up with demand for the popular drink. And, we hear there's a zero version hitting stores soon! By 1924, Cheerwine was outselling Mint Cola and Peeler's company became Cheerwine Bottling Co. Today, it's still family-run, making it the oldest continuously-run soda company in the country (via Southern Living). One of the most popular soft drinks in the South is not known widely outside the area. Though Cheerwine contains no actual wine, drinkers are purportedly filled with cheer upon first sip. Meanwhile, Vivian Howard serves a pulled pork sandwich doctored up with Cheerwine barbecue sauce at her Kinston oyster bar, Boiler Room. All rights reserved. While participants in a Huffington Post taste test didn't love 7-Eleven's orange flavored beverage more than Sunkist, they did prefer it to much pricier sodas like San Pellegrino and Izze (which came in last). That's a thirty per-cent increase! It tastes like cough medicine to me, he says. 8. We also introduced several new flavors, beginning with Cheerwine Holiday Punch in 2014, Cheerwine Squeeze in 2015, and Cheerwine Kreme in 2016. Her family brought home a year's supply of Cheerwine from every Summer trip to North Carolina. As the New York Times discovered in 2011, the driving forces behind the drinks expanding cult have been the internet and social media, which have played a major role in spreading the gospel of regional favorites (i.e., Martins potato rolls) in recent years. Thats particularly true of fizzy drinks that enjoy deep-seated regional affinities think Texass love for Dr Pepper, Chicagos fondness for Green River, and in North Carolina, allegiance to a curious-sounding soda called Cheerwine. It's the oldest,continuously operated, family-owned soft drink companyCarolina Beverage Corp. and Cheerwine Bottling Co. are still owned by L.D. Though it is now produced in many other states, the original version was created in Salisbury, N.C. Back in 1953, when President Eisenhower was given a taste of the cherry soda, he enjoyed the flavor so much it rendered him nearly mute, blurting out, "Ike likes!" Cheerwine - Wikipedia Despite its name, Cheerwine has no booze. Cheerwine Soft Drink (12 oz) Delivery or Pickup Near Me - Instacart One thing will immediately hit you when you take of swig of Grapicois its sweetness. The shows also let fans screen the concerts live if they pledged community service hours. If you're from the Southeast, you know the sweet, black cherry bliss of Cheerwine. Nice! While these name-brand sodas certainly have at place in the hearts of many a Southerner, there are other, hyper-local brands that are, dare we say, better. Here are 14 tasty tidbits about the cherry drink that's invading store shelves nationwide: 1. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Put the butter out to soften. Diet Cheerwine: What's? Information About Diet Cheerwine It's such a natural pairing that it became known as a "Southern handshake"barbecue in one hand and a Cheerwine in the other. AskAnAmerican: Learn about America, straight from the mouths of Americans. The perforated cutout to convert the carton . "I didn't drink much soda when I was a kid my parents didn't keep sugar in the house so it was always a special treat when we got to drink Cheerwine, Christensen says. L.D. But despite growing concern over sugars health effects (and the related emergence of controversial soda taxes), many Americans are unlikely to give up their beloved carbonated beverages until theyre pried from their cold, dead hands. Download the Cheerwine history timeline here. What's wrong with the taste or marketability of the beverage if it tastes good (does it)? That meant Peeler had to devise a drink that tasted good but had less sugar. Traditionally Cheerwine is paired with barbecue, which, coincidentally, is legendary in North Carolina as well. It's actually asoda, a sweet cherry one at that, and it's been a bonafide hit in the South for a century, according to the official website. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. It might be sweet and citrusy, but that's never really been its main selling point. What States Is Cheerwine Sold In - UpThirst In a twist of fate, a traveling salesman knocked on Peeler's door in 1917 with cherry flavoring. Cheerwine is widely held up by North Carolinians as the best beverage to pair with barbecue, providing a sweet foil to both the vinegar-based sauce thats traditionally paired with smoked pork shoulder in the eastern part of the state and the ketchup-y sauce that dominates at barbecue joints across the states western half. The Mint Cola Bottling Co. came firstWhen Kentucky's Maysville Syrup Company went bankrupt, L.D. 1989 marked the last run of returnable 8 ounce bottles. Peeler created Cheerwine in 1917 in Salisbury, North Carolina amid a sugar shortage. It was originally created in New Orleans in1916but later rebranded and sold in Alabama where it has continued to enjoy a large level of popularity. Also, the 6 ounce bottle changed to a king size 8 ounce bottle. We are so grateful to our large and loyal customer base in North Carolina, says Ritchie, who was raised in the business and joined it after college. The drink itself has a deep reddish tone to it, like a slightly darker Cheerwine (if you've never had Cheerwine, you need it). The first can of Cheerwine was produced during this era. Cheerwine has a few fans in the White House. By the 1950s, says Cheerwine, bottles of the soda sold for just 5 a pop, and cases for 80. Off-Brand Drinks That Taste Better Than The Real Thing (Slideshow) While itll taste great in a Moscow Mule, you can also try using it in the following cocktail. Our first slogan: For Health & Pleasure! Later, plastic 2-liter bottles were introduced. After all, the cherry soda had been around for nearly a century at that point and had become a legend so why not mix things up a little? The 2020 festival even went virtual to include live music, games, mini-contest giveaways and other activities fans could participate in from the comfort of home. Demand went up and we had no choice but to get our first delivery truck. Cheerwine is a cherry flavored soda that was created in Salisbury, NC in 1917. 10 Facts About Cheerwine, the Beloved Southern Soft Drink has a more robust flavor, much like a ginger beer. 6. Carolina Beverage Corporation 1413 Jake Alexander Boulevard S. Salisbury, NC 28146 (704) 637-5881. Cheerwine is More Than a Soft Drink Its a Lifestyle Statement, Top 10 Best Charlotte Dance Studios for Kids, Top 10 Best Charlotte Swim Schools - Swimming Lessons. Sugar was heavily rationed at the time, and company founder L.D. Of course, Cheerwines not the only red soft drink thats come to be associated with barbecue. 's son who took over the reins when L.D. The taste sensation known as Cheerwine was born. [8] Like ginger ale, Cheerwine is named for its closeness in color to the alcoholic beverage. Cheerwine is currently sold in fourteen states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. There were also popsicles and a sorbet on hand. North Carolinians consider themselves privy to plenty of treasuresthe Outer Banks, the Wright brothers, and even Krispy Kreme. Cheerwine is home-based out of a small Southern town Salisbury, North Carolina. Updated Aug. 10, 2018 I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but when I crave something sweet, it's usually for something that comes in liquid form. (If you're not, you probably thought we were talking about some sugar-infused bum wine -- you also just proved you're a Yankee, you Yank.) Since you cant get it everywhere, a bottle of Cheerwine feels special, so we exalt it, the chef says. Updated on August 22, 2022 Fact checked by Jillian Dara In This Article View All A Sweet History The First Bottled Cherry Soda No Wine in Cheerwine Always Family Owned Support for the War Effort The South might be known for its sweet tea, but a multitude of Southerners know a sweet sip of Cheerwine goes best with a barbecue dinner. The answer came to him in the form of a salesman visiting from St. Louis who was peddling a wild cherry flavor that packed a punch and made for a memorable soft drink even without all the sugar. When you think of cherry soda, especially if you're a Yankee, you probably think of Cherry Coke, which debuted in 1985 (via Insider) or Wild Cherry Pepsi, which hit shelves in 1988 (per Pepsi Brattleboro). If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. North Carolinas favorite cherry soda goes hand in hand with barbecue. In 2015, they made it official when the National Barbecue Association named Cheerwine as its official soft drink. The #21 Cheerwine racing car, driven by Morgan Shepherd, made its race debut. 12. Grab a cold glass of our unique cherry soda and dive in. Learn how your comment data is processed. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Melissa Locker writes about food, drinks, culture, gardening, and the joys of Waffle House. That of course extends to the regional sodas that have become a staple on many a picnic, dinner and celebratory table. 7 Select Orange Soda. These days the "uniquely Southern" drink has a cult following with legions of devotees, including Southern chefs using Cheerwine as an ingredient in everything from donuts to barbecue sauce. 10 Lesser-Known Sodas Our Taste Buds Will Never Forget Pour into prepared pans about 2/3 or 3/4 full and bake according to package instructions, about 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Thrillist says only in 2017 was Cheerwine around in all 50 states. Whether this is all news to you or you're actually sipping on a Cheerwine right now, we're betting there are a few things you didn't know about this North Carolina-helmed staple. By submitting your email, you agree to our, the U.S. consumed more bottled water than soft drinks, something writer Robert Moss attributes to various forces, restaurant critic Alan Richman wrote in 2006, a soda called Big Red enjoys a similarly loyal following. If you travel through North Carolina, you will likely see an unusual soda pop sold in red cans or in old fashioned soda bottles with the oval Cheerwine logo. The company has also tried out some decidedly vintage advertising tactics. No word yet if a third-annual concert is in the works for Summer 2014. In 2006, the Cheerwine logo changed to include cherries for the first time since 1920. Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. Grape. L.D.s great-grandson, Cliff Ritchie, is now in charge of the company. Fans like you are sure to make the next 100 years as great as the last. Everything You Need to Know About Cheerwine - Taste of the South Peeler set out on a mission to invent a soda that required less sugar than usual. He renamed it the Carolina Beverage Corporation and continued making the popular Mint Cola. President George H.W. Cheerwine moved to its present location in July of 1967. plastic bottle. November 2, 2020October 13, 2020 | Home & Family. Blenheim has been family-owned and operated since the early1800s. Available in soda aisles across the state. Starlight comes in both Original Taste and Zero Sugar varieties. This cherry-flavored soda is Southern at its roots, created in 1917 and still operated by a family-owned company. After the success of the Centennial Celebration, the annual Cheerwine Festival, hosted by the City of Salisbury, has since brought over 60,000 attendees each year to downtown Salisburys Main Street. To make this drink you should add sugar, water, and soda pop. Many of these bottles have become cherished collectibles. Despite its moniker, Cheerwine contains zero alcohol. You can also make Cheerwine bundt cake with this recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen, or Cheerwine barbecue chicken from the Charlotte Observer. From smoothing out hot wings to adding that great cherry flavor to brownies, the possibilities are endless. Mark Ritchie became President of Carolina Beverage Corporation and Cliff Ritchie became President of Cheerwine Bottling in 1992. "Cheerwine is one of those beloved, iconic North Carolina products that tend to confuse newcomers most likely because of its unusual name, says Amy Rogers, who writes about food and culture for Charlotte NPR station WFAE. Cheerwine: What newcomers need to know. - NC Eat & Play Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Although glass bottles commemorating Cheerwines 90th anniversary are filled with the original cane-sugar recipe, today, Cheerwine is made with corn sugar and sold in a variety of sizes. Cherry Coke and Wild Cherry Pepsi weren't actually sold in stores until the 1980s, while Cherry Dr. Pepper only arrived in the 2000s. That of course extends to the regional sodas that have become a staple on many a picnic, dinner and celebratory table. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). This makes it much easier to mix up this cake and gives it a better texture. Rumor has it, some soldiers claimed to have been able to vaguely make out a Cheerwine logo in metal on the hull of the USS Intrepid. First, Cheerwine made what felt like a very organic partnership with a grocery store chain that just so happened to also be headquartered in Salisbury called Food Lion. 2. Cheerwine - North Carolina History Project Winner will be selected at random on 07/01/2023. He now serves the soft drink at both his restaurants, both on tap from the soda fountain and in glass bottles. 15 Regional Sodas That Should Be Sold in Every State - Wide Open Country Most recently, Cheerwine has been added to the menu of Brother Jimmys Barbecue in New York City (a restaurant featuring North Carolina style barbecue). "Cheerwine is pretty much the sweetest soft drink ever made, and in my opinion the greatest accompaniment to barbecue ever produced," food critic Alan Richman wrote in GQ. Scan this QR code to download the app now. You can, however, always use it in a cocktail, such as the drink below. But did you know the soda is also known as the "Nectar from North Carolina"? But that's where another contradiction comes in. Soft drinks may be as American as apple pie, but sales have been on the decline for the past decade; last year, for the first time ever, the U.S. consumed more bottled water than soft drinks. If you happen to come across any of these bottles on your travels, be sure to act like the locals and pair these fizzy sippers with the foods and cocktails with whichtheyre meant to be showcased. Sign up here and check out the Cheerwine Tastemakers Facebook group. Yeah, it's not wineThe name actually comes from the drink's burgundy color and the cheerfulness drinkers experience after that first sip. Food Culture Why Cheerwine has been North Carolina's favorite cherry soda for over 100 years On all occasions, it's good taste By Jelisa Castrodale April 5, 2021 Even diet soda drinkers can. 5 of the best Southern-made sodas that aren't Coca-Cola Vroom Vroom! Peeler created Cheerwine in 1917 in Salisbury, North Carolina amid a sugar shortage. The Untold Truth Of Cheerwine - Mashed And Ritchie claims the beverage is now better than ever. What Does Cheerwine Taste Like - Meal Delivery Reviews Iceland in Summer: Journey Through a Fabled Land, Rewilding: Tracking Wolves in the Forests of Sweden, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Satanists, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Stories from the Collection of Ryan and Regina Cohn, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Artful Stitches & Fixes: Visible Mending With Erin Eggenburg, Spoken Stories: Recording Oral History With Meral Agish, Seas The Day: Life Lessons from Cephalopods With Sarah McAnulty, Taxidermy Techniques: A Special 3-Part Series With Allis Markham, Stories in the Stones: How to Read a Gravestone With Dr. Elise M. Ciregna, To Reduce Conflicts With Humans, Get Inside an Elephant's Head, 11 Hyper-Local, Unique Summer Activities From Around the World, One English Family Took Photos of Shipwrecks for More Than a Century, Collier Candy Company/Used With Permission, www.eater.com/2017/3/23/14950304/cheerwine-history, www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/14-things-you-didn-t-know-about-cheerwine, northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/cheerwine/, www.charlotteobserver.com/living/food-drink/ill-bite-blog/article88892572.html, www.washingtonexaminer.com/while-rome-burns-congress-is-wasting-its-time-honoring-crappy-beverages-like-cheerwine/article/2623621, www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/webexhibits/chicagocandy/shortage.html. L.D. When Peeler was offered a chance to buy out a Kentucky syrup company that marketed a mint soda, he decided to get into the soft drink business. This gives the Cheerwine cake height and a lighter texture. Youll hear about good times barbecues, NASCAR trips, backyard parties, and other wonderful Cheerwine moments. That same year, Clifford Peeler was inducted into the Beverage World Hall of Fame. A Collection of the Best Cheerwine Recipes In 2020, with the refresh of Cheerwine.com, we added a library of delicious Cheerwine recipes for all to enjoy, and even an option to submit your own Cheerwine recipe! And if you've never tried Cheerwine, you might have also assumed that it's, well, wine. Its one of his best-selling drinks, second only to Pepsi. Shutterstock By Courtney Iseman / Updated: Feb. 3, 2023 4:32 pm EST The drink known as Cheerwine is a bit of a contradiction. With the perfect taste secured, he needed a name. It's been in family hands ever since. People who visit become fans though and will pay to have Cheerwine shipped out. Because of this, Cheerwine is lighter on the sugar but heavy on the wild cherry flavor. Diet Cheerwine contains the same mouthwatering effervescence and a sweet, tangy flavor that makes it a southern favorite. Cheerwines original slogan, For health and pleasure, suggested that the nonalcoholic, burgundy beverage was a superior choice for health-conscious drinkers. Its fairly common knowledge that root beer is not a beer. All rights reserved. It's not as large a brand as Coke or Pepsi, which is what i was referring to when I called it an off brand. According to Eater, the first half of the 20th century was a big time for soda in the South. Cheerwine Caffeine Content: How it Affects Energy and Focus What can we say, it was a simpler time. Cliff Ritchie was inducted three years later. The sodas future is also insured by some top North Carolina chefs who, after childhoods spent drinking Cheerwine, are now serving it in their restaurants including Ashley Christensen, the Raleigh-based chef behind Pooles Diner and several other acclaimed establishments. And something about a bottle of Cheerwine, poured over crushed ice, just pairs so perfectly with the crispy, salty flavors and textures of fried chicken.". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The company is owned by the Peeler family (still, how cool is that) and can be found in many Southern grocery stores. 1m. Friends of pitmaster Sam Jones, a sixth-generation smoked meat guru known for serving up whole hog barbecue at the acclaimed Skylight Inn in Ayden as well as the more recently opened Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, say hes rarely seen without a Cheerwine in his hand. See our ethics policy. We launched Diet Cheerwine in the beginning of the decade. Oh no, none as carbonated as Cheerwine. In the early 1900s, it was common to name products after their looks, explains Cliff Ritchie, president and CEO of Carolina Beverage Corporation and great-grandson of Cheerwine inventor Lewis D. Peeler. Top 10 Best Charlotte Birthday Party Venues, Things to do During Layover in the Charlotte Airport, 1 cup butter (2 sticks) can use margarine but butter is better, 8 drops red food coloring (optional) but gives the cake a prettier color. (If you're not, you probably thought we were talking about some sugar-infused bum wine -- you also just proved. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Explore Marion, Old Fort and McDowell County, thecharlottemoms.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Photo Credit: Shutterstock When Mint-Colas parent company went bankrupt during the war, Peeler purchased his local branch and used it to found the Carolina Beverage Corporation. Initially, Peeler sold the mint sodas, but he also played around with his own concoctions. Bush, Sr. celebrated the Fourth of July in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he could indulge in the drink straight from the source. Written by North Carolina History Project. Found in cans, bottles, or if youre lucky on tap at various barbecue restaurants across the state, it has a saccharine-sweet flavor that some describe as bubblegum, though others will insist it just tastes red.. According to the company's website, when war came, Clifford Peeler donated scrap metal to the war effort including the company's first Dixie Filler machine, old signs, and other pieces of memorabilia. Its got a depth of flavor with this cherry beginning and a root-y ending almost like a cross between Cherry Coke and Dr Pepper, but better, obviously, says N.C. chef/restaurateur and A Chefs Life star Vivian Howard. In 2021, we introduced Cheerwine Zero Sugar! That leaves a good taste in everyones mouth. Cheerwine likes to be in your breakfast, tooKrispy Kreme, another North Carolina native, has twice produced limited-run Cheerwine donuts, so you can have your cherry-sugar rush for most every meal. 's son Clifford took over the company, and, today, Cliff Ritchie, Clifford Sr.'s grandson and the founder's great-grandson, helms the soda company. Today, Cheerwine is North Carolinas favorite drink to pair with BBQ, which the company refers to as a Southern handshake. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and George H. W. Bush havesang the sodas praises while visiting North Carolina. The most common question for those unfamiliar with the product is, Well, is it a wine?. At the press event, the fifth generation of the Peeler family served samples. Presidents dig the cherry soda, tooIn 1953, President Eisenhower was apparently so overcome with excitement at his first taste of the soda, he was reduced to the two-syllable exclamation, "Ike likes! Our flavor is why weve been here for almost 100 years., But having such a unique flavor has been both a blessing and a hurdle for Cheerwine, whose tagline is a cherry different soda. People always ask me, What does it taste like? he says, referring to the drinks tag line, a cherry different soda. What does Cheerwine taste like? - Real Estate Remote We hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about Cheerwine. While Cheerwine set the bar for cherry soda in the beginning of the 20th century, the drink has only become more widely known and available far more recently. 2. . Grease a tube cake or bundt cake pan and pour the batter in pan. If you travel through North Carolina, you will likely see an unusual soda pop sold in red cans or in old fashioned soda bottles with the oval Cheerwine logo. The cherry soda from North Carolina with a bubbly effervescence and one of a kind taste became an instant hit. The ingredients used to make the drink are sugar, carbonic acid (soda), citric acid, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid, water, natural flavorings, and coloring. He started selling Cheerwine, and in 1924, changed the name to the Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling Company. The celebration marked the start of the annual Cheerwine Festival. Cheerwine is the first American bottled cherry soda and remains family owned to this day. 5.My Latest Obsession: Cheerwine, the Cherry-Flavored Pop. ", proving that talking about yourself in the third-person always makes you sound like a moron, even if you're the President. It's not limited to soda formFood Lion, a Salisbury, NC-based grocery chain, carries Cheerwine ice creams, sherbets, and cream bars, while a local bakery also makes Cheerwine cakes. Family Owned Since 1917 There are barbecue sauces using it, including this commercially made one available on Cheerwine's website and recipes for DIY options like this one on Foodie Post. Peeler wanted to create a new soft drink that would use less of it; adding cherry flavoring reduced the amount of sugar needed to make the drink palatable. 13 Beloved Fast Food Chains That Started In The South, Why Southerners Love Texas' Original Dr Pepper Just As Much As Coca-Cola, Why Southerners Will Always Have a Soft Spot for Big Red, the Texas Soda That's Been Around Since 1937, The South's Best Food Festivals You Need To Attend, Escape To Andy Griffiths World In Mount Airy, North Carolina, Sun Drop Is a Citrus Drink With Southern Roots, A North Carolina Hot Sauce Company Is Taking Taste BudsAnd WeddingsBy Storm, 14 Southern Events, Festivals, And Happenings Not To Miss This Summer, The Stories Behind Classic Southern BBQ Sauces, Holiday Trivia: 30 Questions And Answers For Your Next Party Game, 24 Things You'll Only Find at a Southern Supermarket, Top 20 Memorial Day Weekend Destinations in the South, The Best Breweries In Greenville, South Carolina, How Double Cola Became Part Of The Fabric Of Chattanooga, The Best Things To Do In Bluffton, South Carolina. Honestly, its like asking someone to describe milk-milk tastes like milk; Cheerwine tastes like Cheerwine.. It also goesinit. The drink is made in Salisbury, N.C., where the first bottle was brewed in 1917. Review: NoDa Brewing's alcoholic Cheerwine Ale beer | Raleigh News When moved to direct heat, the sauce suffered minor burn off and a bit of burning, leaving a small blackened patch on the leg. Having bubbled into existence in Salisbury, N.C., in 1917, this year marks Cheerwines centennial, and the city will fete its homegrown hero with a free festival slated for May 20, where attendees can guzzle as much free Cheerwine as they can handle. taste. I just ordered it on Amazon. Cheerwine has a mildly sweet flavor with strong cherry notes, most notably black cherry; is burgundy-colored; and has an unusually high degree of carbonation compared to other soft drinks.. Why do they call it Cheerwine?
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