Blenheim Ginger Ale is a ginger ale bottled by Blenheim Bottlers in Hamer, Dillon County, South Carolina. It was originally bottled in Blenheim, Marlboro County, South Carolina. It was created by a local doctor in 1903 by mixing Jamaica ginger with the local mineral waters, chosen because the flavor of the mineral waters was so strong.
The spring which is the source of the water for the ginger ale was discovered by a patriot by the name of Spencer who was running from British and American Loyalist troops during the American Revolutionary War. His shoe became stuck in the mud of the natural spring; he left it and kept running. Upon his return, he picked his shoe up and noticed the amount of water in the depression his shoe left. He tasted the water and realized its strong mineral content, which now adds to the distinctive flavor of Blenheim Ginger Ale.
Blenheim is owned by the Schafer family, who also own the world-famous South of the Border roadside attraction.
It is sold in 12 ounce bottles.
Charles Kuralt did a segment on Blenheim Ginger Ale for CBS. Penn Jillette is a fan of Blenheim Ginger Ale and wore a Blenheim shirt on the cover of Wired Magazine.
Read more about Blenheim Ginger Ale: Further Reading
Famous quotes containing the word ale:
“I consider my selfbeing ... that taste of myself, of I and me above and in all things, which is more distinctive than the taste of ale or alum, more distinctive than the smell of walnutleaf or camphor, and is incommunicable by any means to another man.”
—Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)