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Ale-8-One: Kentucky Soft Drink To Be Carried In Cracker Barrel Stores Nationwide

By Lindsay McCane
Published on: 08:36 PST, Mar 15, 2016

Ale-8-One Bottling Co., the maker of the soft drink Ale-8-One (aka “A Late One”), announced on Monday, March 14, that Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. will be carrying Ale-8-One in Cracker Barrel stores nationwide.

According to a press release, Cracker Barrel was founded in 1969 and currently operates 630 retail locations in 42 states.

“Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores are unique and genuinely reminiscent of simpler times, making their outlets perfect venues to feature our 90-year-old, family-crafted soft drink. What made this partnership special from the start is our shared passion for bringing friends and family together,” said Ellen McGeeney, President and COO of Ale-8-One.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to gain entry into Cracker Barrel Country Stores nationwide, and to begin developing a relationship that introduces Cracker Barrel patrons to the Best of the Bluegrass in our classic green glass bottles.”

According to Ale-8-One Bottling Co.’s official website, the soft drink was created by inventor G. L. Wainscott in 1926. Since then, the ginger-citrus based soft drink has been bottled in Winchester, Kentucky. While the drink remained a local sensation for many years, in 2002, the company signed a distribution agreement expanding its territory to include 61 counties of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Ale-8-One remained the company’s only product until 2003, when Wainscott’s great-great nephew, Fielding Rogers, created Diet Ale-8, which contains no calories or aspartame. In 2006, during the company’s 80th anniversary, two more products were created using the Ale-8-One logo and ingredients — Ale-8-One suckers, produced by Ruth Hunt Candy Company in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, and Ale-8-One salsa was created using Kentucky-grown products.

Rogers became the president of Ale-8-One Bottling Company in October of 2009 and still uses Wainscott’s notes to mix up their products.

“Uncle Lee crafted a smooth, refreshing, and truly unique soda: ginger-based, but with more flavor, less carbonation, a little less sugar, and without the bite of ginger beers. Ale-8-One is made with real ginger extract that has been blended specifically for us,” Rogers, the 4th Generation Owner, CEO and guardian of the recipe, said.

The Ale-8-One Company is located at 25 Carol Road, Winchester, Kentucky. Tours of the plant are available on Fridays by appointment. The store, located inside the main building, is open to the public on Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 p.m. Customers who do not live in an area where Ale-8-One is sold can call (859) 744-3484 to place an order for the soft drink to be delivered to their home via UPS. The drink can also be securely ordered off their website.

Fans of Ale-8-One are excited that the soft drink will now be available throughout the nation.

“So I’m probably showing my ?#?bluegrass? roots here, but this is great news! Ale-8-One is such a ?#?kentucky? drink. It always makes me think of home. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it. And this is perfect timing since we’re supposed to be getting a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store sometime soon. ?#?meanttobe? ?#?perfecttiming?,” one Facebook user wrote.

“Look out y’all this is good stuff guess I’m gonna be going to Cracker Barrel more often. Always reminds me of good times. Ill never forget the first bottle I had,” another user wrote, while another added, “I have a new reason to go to Cracker Barrel now. My favorite soda may likely be waiting for me there! It has been my favorite since the mid 1950’s when my daddy from Kentucky introduced me to it.”

[Photo via Facebook/Ale-8-One]

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