Back in November, my wife and I left Chicago and drove to Kentucky for a friend's wedding. Before we went, however, my friend Henry — who went to college in that state — told me to check out a Kentucky-based beverage called Ale-8-One. And so we did!
Now, Ale-8-One is a ginger ale that appears to be passionately loved by folks in the Bluegrass state and surrounding areas. For one thing, it's a locally-produced product (Winchester, Kentucky) that has limited distribution, thus the regional appeal. It has a funky name, which according to the drink's official website, "was adopted as a pun of its description as the latest thing in soft drinks," i.e. a play on the phrase "A Late One" in 1926. Additionally, this drink contains caffeine, which is rather odd for a ginger ale-type beverage. Finally, the drink seems to be used as a mixer with many alcoholic products, specifically bourbon and vodka. (We won't even explore the fact that it is also part of a branded salsa and barbecue sauce product line!)
The drink is currently available in a few packaging formats. The preferred version is a 12 oz. glass bottle, though it's also recently been made available in the standard 20 oz. plastic bottle as well. A diet derivative is also in the marketplace.
Upon opening the bottle, you'll notice a drink that pretty much smells like any other ginger ale. Looks pretty much the same as well… cloudy, yellowish, bubbly. As for the taste, it's not bad. However, I didn't notice anything particularly special that would set apart Ale-8-One from similar products. The texture was flatter, i.e. less carbonation. The flavor combinations were cleaner and tasted more authentic when it come to it's ginger/citrus aspect. The ingredient list on my bottle noted that it was sweetened with "sugar and/or corn sweetener", so it's rather hard to tell if this had high fructose corn syrup in it or not. The clean taste would seem to indicate no HFCS, but again, I have no way of proving that.
A full ingredient list is as follows:
Ale-8-One
Carbonated water, sugar and/or corn sweetener, glycerine, natural and artificial flavorings, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caramel coloring, phosphoric acid, caffeine
A 8 oz. serving will cost you 80 calories, 10 mg of sodium, and 20 g of sugars. The caffeine content breaks down to , which translates down to 3.1 mg/oz. For comparison, Mountain Dew has 4.5 mg/oz. More interestingly, the diet version contains more caffeine, featuring 3.7 mg/oz.
Apparently, this beverage was featured in the 2005 film Elizabethtown featuring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. I've never seen it, but if you do, I guess look out for the drink!
Overall, Ale-8-One is pretty good. It offers nothing by way of taste to set it apart from other products in the marketplace, but does provide a infusion of caffeine that may be desired by some consumers. I applaud its localized appeal and passionate history, though I can't see it becoming more than just a regional brand.
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Thanks for the shout out. I would agree that Ale-8-One has more regional appeal than anything else. But don't tell my KY friends that
I still love the drink! I'll have to stock up when I go visit my brother this year! And I'll have to try some enhanced versions of it as well.
Nothing that sets it apart? It's Ale 8!
Well, I'm biased, so that makes a difference. Here's a question: When you had it, was it in glass bottle, plastic bottle or can? The drink really picks up the metallic flavor in the can and tastes flatter in the plastic bottle. Glass is the preferred way for a reason.
Either way, it's nice to see Ale 8 get a review.
ale 8 is God's greatest gift to the commonwealth. well, that along with UK basketball. as you can tell, im from the great state of kentucky. ale 8 has a particular down-home type feel to it. a "good 'ole days" feeling you get with every drink you take. although i dont drink it as often as i want, it is by far my favorite drink. im not a ginger-ale fan and dont compare it to ginger-ale myself. props to Mr. G.L. Wainscott, thanks for a great drink
Thank You! I'm so glad Ale 8 gets a review. Here in Kentucky Ale 8 is a must at everything. And The Swigg Lebowski is right, it is way better in glass than anything. But in my oppinion Ale 8 is the best part about being in Kentucky. And thanks for trying it any way
Ale 8 is great mixed with peaches and sorghum over a bisquit.
This ginger ale is the best when mixed with your favorite Kentucky Bourbon. I like it 25% bourbon 75% Ale-8-One. If your really in the mood 50/50's better. Enjoy and for God's sake….Don't drink and drive. Be safe!
Seven year old Jim Beam………straight with an Ale-8 chaser. YES!
Another thing. No ice. Drink Ale-8 from the glass bottle. Period. Show me someone drinking Ale-8 with ice, or from a can or disposable bottle, and I'll show you someone who's not from Winchester (sometimes refered to as Funchester)
This used to be avalibul at the walmart here in newark ohio but has sence been discontinued there. kinda sucks i loved the stuff
I was born and bred in Kentucky , I Currently live in Florida, and I gotta say I miss Ale 8 so bad , I grew up on it , glass bottle is surefire way to go . And I agree with Gary .. bourbon and ale 8 … heck of a way to go.
Discovered Ale-8-One on a trip to Henderson, KY. last summer. I buy a case or two each time I return. My friends in Arkansas love the drink and I do, too. Wish they were available here. Great drink!