Ale-8-One, which claims to be the the oldest independent soda company in the United States still owned and operated by the founding family, will turn 90 years old next month. Starting Sept. 1 and continuing through Oct. 31, eleven Louisville restaurants and bars will mark the historic event by devising signature Ale-8-One cocktails.
Perfected by the company’s founder and inventor G.L. Wainscott, Ale-8-One, a citrus-softened ginger beer, has been bottled in its iconic green glass bottles in Winchester, Ky. since 1926. The company continues to be independent, locally owned and family operated by Wainscott’s great-great nephew, Fielding Rogers, who took over in 2009 at age 28.
Here are the cocktails that 11 Louisville restaurants have created to mark Ale-8-One’s anniversary:
►Brasserie Provence, “A Late Flower” with Pinnacle vodka, elderflower liqueur, pink grapefruit juice, peach bitters finished with Ale-8-One, grenadine and a grapefruit twist.
►Bristol Bar & Grille, “Horse’s Neck” with Ale-8-One, bourbon, and a lemon twist garnish.
►Butchertown Grocery, “Soft Shock” with Plantation dark rum, chili-lime shrub, Orgeat, Angostura bitters topped with Ale-8-One, Copper & Kings absinthe and a flamed lemon peel garnish.
►Corbett’s Restaurant, “The Acceler8or” with Maker’s Mark bourbon, Domaine de Canton, Tuaca, Ale-8-One soda and Ale-8-One ice cubes.
►Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar, “Kentucky Dreamer” with Jim Beam Honey, Solerno blood orange liqueur, house-made ginger syrup, fresh squeezed orange juice and topped with Ale-8-One.
►Equus Restaurant & Jack’s Lounge, “Sunny 8” with Old Forester bourbon, ginger syrup, orange, Peychaud’s bitters and Ale-8-One.
►Feast BBQ, Ale-8-One “Bourbon Slushy” with Heaven Hill Black Label bourbon and Ale-8-One.
►Grind Burger Kitchen, “One in a Melon” with gin, cantaloupe juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup and Ale-8-One.
►Lilly’s Bistro, “Improved Bourbon & Ginger Ale” with Maker’s Mark bourbon, house-made Ale-8-One syrup, Regan No. 6 orange bitters, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, Copper & Kings absinthe blanche and a flamed orange peel garnish.
►Noosh Nosh, “Ale-8 Kentucky Buck” with Ale-8-One, bourbon, lemon juice, bitters, muddled strawberries and mint.
►Royals Hot Chicken, “Ale-8-One mojito slushy” with Bacardi rum, mint simple syrup and lime juice.
