Needle beer was beer produced illegally during prohibition in the United States when near beer (or small beer) was spiked with alcohol. The name comes from needles being used to inject alcohol through the corks or bottles or into kegs. The Deep Roots of “Near Bear” What we today call ‘near beer’ was historically known as … Read more
Cambric tea, sometimes called nursery tea, was an American slang term referring to a drink of hot water, milk, and a dash of tea, sometimes sweetened. It is also described as hot water with a little milk or cream and sugar, without any tea at all. It was given to children, supposedly to give them … Read more
Introduced in 1966, Devil Shake was Pepsi’s bold attempt to dethrone Yoo-hoo as the king of chocolate sodas. It was a simple blend of non-fat dry milk, chocolate, and sugar, backed by Pepsi’s massive national distribution network. Pepsi launched the product in New York City with high hopes and zero market testing. But despite the … Read more
Coca-Cola is often given credit for two Christmas-related accomplishments. First, Coke is said to be the first soda brand to use images of Santa Claus in advertisements. Second, the company is claimed to have invented the modern Santa Claus look of the portly white-bearded figure with rosy cheeks, a jolly smile, and a red and … Read more
The Harvey Wallbanger cocktail is essentially a Screwdriver with Galliano Italian (anise) liqueur. I’ve mentioned Galliano before in regard to the Hurricane Cocktail. Some versions of the Harvey Wallbanger have gin instead of vodka. Like many drinks, this cocktail has a funny story attached to its origin. It’s said to be named after a real, and … Read more
Since Coca-Cola was born in 1886, it has produced an endless stream of advertising campaign slogans. Some of these may be familiar depending on your generation—much like popular hit songs. For me, “Have a Coke and a Smile” is what I associate most with Coke, alongside “It’s the Real Thing.” While I recognize many others, … Read more