Drink of the Week: Cheerwine
Where: DC Empanadas, Spy City Cafe
For some reason, most classic sodas still around today seem to have found their origins in southern pharmacies. Was it the mix of the long, hot summers and Southern Baptist teetotalers that yielded so many combinations still around today? While the most well known southern sodas are Coca-Cola (Georgia), Pepsi (North Carolina), and Dr. Pepper (Texas), there are some other lesser-known bubbly delights out there.
A recent article in Imbibe profiled the rise of a number of other southern sodas from their roots in the pharmacy, including RC Cola, Nehi, Ale-8-One, Cool Moon, Blenheim’s and Buffalo Rock.
Along with those they mentioned is one of my personal favorites: Cheerwine. Cheerwine is most frequently described as a cherry soda, but that implies a drink reminiscent of cough syrup or candy. In reality, the flavor is closer to a cherry-heavy mix of Dr. Pepper and cola with fine champagne-like bubbles.
Cheerwine has recently received a lot of attention as a cult favorite, with some saying it could soon be the PBR of sodas. And perhaps it’s coming true: bartenders have been incorporating the soda in cocktails, and for a limited time, Krispy Kreme sold Cheerwine-filled donuts.
They’re hoping to expand distribution through the rest of the U.S., and apparently there’s even a bottling plant in Maryland. Yet the soda is still hard to find in the area. If you decide you want to give it a go or get a fix for your existing addiction, you can buy bottles at DC Empanadas and Spy City Cafe.
Do you know of any other cool classic sodas we should be trying?
Small Bites
Rogues rejoices!
Rogue States, the burger joint which temporarily closed due to a lawsuit over burger fumes, will be reopening its Dupont Circle location under the new name Black and Orange. In addition, owner Raynold Mendizabal is planning a second location at 1931 14th Street, which he hopes to open in September.
Details on Daikaya
Washingtonian has the details on Daikaya, a new ramen and izakaya partnership by the owners of Sushiko and Current Sushi. While we’re eager for the ramen, we’re a bit hesitant about what it means that the owner of Current Sushi and the closed Dragonfly will have a hand in creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Where are Frankie and Annette?
EatBar is throwing their 3rd Annual Beach Blanket Bash on June 11 from noon-3 p.m. The event features a tasting of 25 wines, and food tickets are available for fish tacos, Red Apron half-smokes, fries, handmade salt-water taffy and funnel cakes(!). Tickets are $25.
