Refreshing Grape Vernors Offers Unique Twist on Ginger Ale

The History of Grape Vernors

Vernors Ginger Ale has been a beloved beverage since its creation in 1866 by James Vernor, a Detroit pharmacist. Originally a medicinal drink made with ginger and other spices, the refreshing taste quickly made it a popular soda fountain offering. The distinctive bold flavor comes from using aged ginger and vanilla in the ginger ale recipe.

James Vernor entered the army shortly after creating his ginger ale syrup recipe. When he returned from service four years later, he discovered the barrels of syrup had unexpectedly created a delicious bubbly drink with a perfectly balanced ginger kick. This became the original Vernors ginger ale millions of fans still enjoy 150 years later.

The Introduction of Grape Vernors

For over a century, Vernors produced only its iconic ginger ale recipe. The first new flavor did not arrive until the late 1960s when Vernors debuted a diet version of its ginger ale. Next came Vernors 1-Cal with just one calorie per bottle as a low-calorie alternative.

Grape soda has been a beloved flavor across America going back generations. The purple-hued graped soda delivers a sweet, fruity taste many find nostalgic. The flavor lends itself nicely to creative custom crafted sodas. Naturally, some Vernors fans began experimenting with mixing grape soda into ginger ale on their own to create a grape Vernors concoction.

Customer Demand Leads to Grape Vernors Production

After years of customers blending purple grape soda and Vernors ginger ale together at home and in soda fountains, demand reached the point that producing premixed grape Vernors made sense. Under the Dr Pepper Snapple Group banner (now Keurig Dr Pepper), Vernors began releasing its first new ginger ale flavors in decades.

Grape Vernors hit the shelves sometime around 2010. Fans no longer needed to manually mix the unmistakable Vernors ginger zing with sweet purple grape soda. For Vernors devotees, part of the appeal was enjoying their favorite ginger ale reimagined with a flavorful new twist.

What Makes Grape Vernors Unique

Unlike many grape sodas, grape Vernors relies on natural flavors rather than artificial grape flavoring. This avoids the syrupy-sweet and rather flat taste from artificial grape flavoring that dominates most mass-market grape sodas. Instead, grape Vernors delivers a carbonated ginger kick smoothed out by light fruity sweetness.

The Vernors Ginger Difference

At the foundation lies Vernors legendary ginger ale recipe. Fresh ginger continues aging in oak barrels for months to produce strong spicy and sweet ginger notes. This makes Vernors stand out from all other ginger ales. The natural vanilla and other spices further enhance the ginger ale's flavor depth.

When creating grape Vernors, the makers wisely chose not to tinker with their time-tested ginger ale formula. The same recipe perfected since 1866 delivers the signature spicy boldness fans expect from Vernors. The special aged ginger recipe and effervescent blend of spices offer thirst-quenching refreshment.

Ideal Sweetness

Beyond the Vernors backbone, natural grape flavoring provides pleasing purple grape taste. The use of natural ingredients ensures smooth fruity sweetness without crossing into cloying soda territory. The result is an ideal level of sweetness to balance the ginger bite.

The sweetness stands up to the spiciness instead of getting overwhelmed. Yet it avoids overpowering the complex Original Ginger Soda flavors at the core. Grape Vernors strikes an ideal balance between accentuating ginger zing and fruit-tinged sweetness.

Enjoying Grape Vernors

Fans can enjoy grape Vernors on its own chilled over ice or mixed into recipes and craft soda creations. The portability of 12 ounce cans makes it easy to always have grape Vernors on hand for your grape ginger ale fix.

Sipping Chilled Grape Vernors

Pour chilled grape Vernors over ice to enjoy its full flavor and fizz. Letting the purple soda slowly foam releases the carbonation for optimal refreshed taste. Particularly on hot days, icy cold grape Vernors proves a thirst-quenching treat.

Alternatively, open a frosty can or bottle straight from the refrigerator to instantly enjoy a cool beverage. Sipping ice-cold grape Vernors showcases how the ginger notes sing through without getting lost.

Mixing Creative Grape Vernors Drinks

The memorable flavors of grape Vernors lend themselves to modified sodas too. Blend it with lemonade for a lighter tangy twist. Or enhance tartness with added lime or pineapple juices over ice.

Around Detroit, where Vernors originated, enjoying a Boston cooler remains popular by combining vanilla ice cream with ginger ale. Try substituting in grape Vernors for a brighter flavor. The creaminess plays off the carbonation for a fountain classic taste.

With grape Vernors as the base, craft your own soda shop grape creations at home. The possibilities span mixing fruits, sweeteners, creamy additions, or additional sodas to concoct original drink mixtures not available in stores.

The Appeal of Grape Vernors Endures

Vernors fans count ginger ale among their ride-or-die beverages. But the introduction of grape Vernors twisting this ginger ale into an approachable new flavor has only expanded its popularity. Both nostalgic and modern soda fans appreciate the pairing of two classic flavors in one bottle.

Almost 150 years since Vernors ginger ale was invented, it continues evolving. Grape Vernors reinvents ginger ale not by losing touch with tradition but rather by bridging customers' affection for heritage with new flavor fusion innovation.

FAQs

When was grape Vernors first released?

Grape Vernors first hit store shelves sometime around 2010 after years of customers mixing their own grape and ginger ale combinations. It became the first new Vernors flavor variant since the 1960s debut of diet Vernors.

Where is grape Vernors sold?

Grape Vernors is sold across the United States wherever Vernors ginger ale is available. As a newer product, it may have limited availability in some regions compared to the original ginger ale. Check your local grocery store soda aisle or search online to find it.

Is the ginger taste strong in grape Vernors?

Yes, grape Vernors retains the same strong ginger ale bite the original version is known for. Natural grape flavoring adds light sweetness without overwhelming Vernors' signature spicy and bold ginger soda profile.

What ingredients are in grape Vernors?

Grape Vernors contains carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium benzoate, caramel color, and aged ginger extractives. It relies on natural flavors to achieve its grape taste without artificial grape flavoring.