Vernors Ginger Ale

The history of Vernors goes back to before the Civil War.  A young pharmacist wanted to duplicate the taste of a ginger ale from Ireland.  He had formulated the drink but was called to join the troops from Michigan in the Civil War in 1862.  He wanted to keep his drink a secret, so he poured the mixture into an oak barrel.   After serving four years in the War he returned home to find that the mixture had taken on a totally different taste.    The wood of the barrel had aged the drink and now it was “Deliciously different”. 

Vernors opened a drug store on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. He had a soda fountain and sold his ginger ale.  It became so popular that other fountains wanted to sell the ginger ale.   He was very strict with his vendors and required them to use the quality products he used...

In 1896, Vernors established his own soda fountain store.  This allowed for the Vernors drink to spread to other mid-west cities.  In time the Vernors Company opened a bottling plant in downtown Detroit.  In the 1940’s locals and tourist could watch the bottling operation and enjoy a ginger ale for 5 cents.    James Vernors died in 1929.

In 1966 the Vernors family sold the business to American Consumer Products.  It was later sold to United Brands, and in 1987 to A&W beverages.   It is now owned by Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc.   The flagship Detroit-bottling plant was closed in 1985.

For Michiganders the best drink around in the summer is a Boston Cooler.   The drink was invented on Boston Boulevard and therefore its name.    It contains Vernors ginger ale and vanilla ice cream.  It is the best!!  However don’t ask for one outside the Michigan area because people will look at you strangely.