Ale-8-One
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Ale-8-One pronounced as A Late One,<ref>https://ale8one.com/heritage/family-secret</ref> colloquially Ale-8, is a ginger-ale soft drink bottled by the Ale-8-One Bottling Company in Winchester, Kentucky, United States. It is distributed primarily to brick and mortar retailers in Kentucky.<ref name="trendy">Template:Cite news</ref>
History
The formula for Ale-8-One was developed by soda bottler G. L. Wainscott in the 1920s.<ref name=kye>Walton, p. 11</ref> Wainscott, who had been in the soda business in Winchester, Kentucky, since 1902, had developed Roxa-Kola, his previous flagship product, in 1906. In creating the formula for Ale-8-One, Wainscott drew upon his knowledge of ginger-based recipes acquired in northern Europe.<ref name=kye />
Wainscott began bottling Ale-8-One in 1926, and sponsored a naming contest for the drink. "A Late One" was chosen as the winning entry, suggesting that the product was "the latest thing" in soft drinks, and shortened to "Ale-8-One".<ref name=kye /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1935, Wainscott purchased a livery stable in Winchester and converted it to a bottling factory to expand his operation.<ref name=kye /> Upon Wainscott's death in 1944, half of his company stock went to his wife; the other half was divided among his employees.<ref name=kye /> When his wife died in 1954, her stock was left to her brother, Frank A. Rogers.<ref name=kye /> Rogers bought the remaining company stock in 1962 and incorporated the Ale-8-One Bottling Company.<ref name=kye /> He named his son, Frank Rogers Jr., manager of the new company.<ref name=kye />
The Ale-8-One Bottling Company constructed a new plant in Winchester in 1965.<ref name=kye /> It ceased production of Roxa-Kola in 1968 and by 1974, had halted production of all its other drinks to focus on Ale-8-One.<ref name=kye /> The company remains under the control of the Rogers family.<ref name=kye />
A limited edition reissue of Roxa-Kola was released in November 2023, and re-released for a long term run in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Composition
The Ale-8-One recipe is a closely guarded family secret.Template:R Reportedly, only former company president Frank A. Rogers III and his son, current president Fielding Rogers, know its exact composition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Scientific studies have proven that Ale-8-One has less caffeine than Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or Mountain Dew.Template:R
Variants
In 2003, the company announced limited distribution of Diet Ale-8,<ref name=variants>Template:Cite web</ref> its first new product since the introduction of the original Ale-8 in 1926. Diet Ale 8, which was renamed Ale-8 Zero Sugar in 2020, contains 44 mg of caffeine and no sugars. The diet variety is sweetened with a mixture of acesulfame potassium and sucralose.Template:Citation needed Caffeine Free Diet Ale 8 (now Caffeine Free Ale-8 Zero Sugar), sweetened with Splenda, followed in March 2011.Template:Citation needed
In 2018, Cherry Ale-8 was released. It was first available exclusively in fountain drink form, then it became available in bottles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Motsinger, Carol (April 12, 2018). "After 92 years, Ale-8-One will release a new spin on its beloved soda". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 18, 2018.</ref><ref>Henry, Morgan (April 24, 2018). "Cherry Ale-8 to be available by end of the week". WTVQ-DT. Retrieved September 18, 2018.</ref> A zero-sugar version of Cherry Ale-8 became available in 2020.Template:R In April 2019, Ale-8-One announced a new orange cream soda flavor to be available in early May of that year.<ref>Walters, Alexia (April 4, 2019). "Ale-8-One To Release Orange Creme Flavor". WLEX-TV. Retrieved April 4, 2019.</ref> In May 2022, Blackberry Ale-8 was released to the public, in a bottled form. In May 2023, Peach Ale-8 was released as a limited edition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July 2024, StrawMelon Ale-8 was released as a limited edition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2025, PawPaw Ale-8 was released as a seasonal edition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Availability and distribution
For much of its history, Ale-8 was only available in central and eastern Kentucky. In April 2001, the Ale-8-One Bottling Company expanded its distribution to areas of southern Ohio and southern Indiana through an agreement with Coca-Cola Enterprises. Later, distribution expanded to East Tennessee and western Virginia.Template:When It is also available in some parts of West Virginia.Template:Citation needed
In July 2015, Ale-8 announced plans to expand distribution into Indianapolis.Template:Update inline
Nationwide distribution
In 2016, Cracker Barrel began distributing the drink nationwide in all of its locations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>“Ale-8-One: Kentucky Soft Drink To Be Carried In Cracker Barrel Stores Nationwide“. Inquisitr (March 15, 2016). Retrieved June 10, 2017.</ref> In 2017, The Fresh Market began distributing Ale-8 and Diet Ale-8 in their stores in the eastern and Midwestern United States.Template:Citation needed
Other products
In 2006, the Ale-8-One Bottling Company introduced Ale-8-One Salsa, which was available as an experimental product, but became a permanent item at Kroger stores and on the company's online store. The salsa was inspired by a Sullivan University student who won a contest commemorating the company's 80th anniversary by making a salsa dish with Ale-8-One as an ingredient.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Shortly after,Template:When Ale-8-One Barbecue Sauce was introduced.Template:Citation needed
See also
References
Works cited
External links
- Template:Official website
- Review on BevNET.com
- Sauceman, Fred (September 30, 2005). "Kentucky's Ale-8-One Soon to Turn 80" WETS-fm Public Radio site.
- Lomax, Rebecca (July 18–24, 2002). "The Latest Thing." (Cincinnati) CityBeat.