Canada Dry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Canada Dry is a brand of soft drinks marketed by Dr Pepper/Seven Up, a unit of Cadbury-Schweppes. Canada Dry is best known for its ginger ale, but also manufactures a number of other soft drinks and mixers. Although Canada Dry originated in its namesake country, Canada, it is now produced in many countries around the globe, and is very popular in the United States.
Contents |
[edit] History
John J. McLaughlin was the older son of Robert McLaughlin, whose wagon factory, located in Oshawa, Ontario was the largest such business in the British Empire. His brother, Robert Samuel "Colonel Sam" McLaughlin, took control of his father's firm and steered it into the automobile business—a move which resulted in it becoming General Motors Canada in 1916. However, John also enjoyed considerable success in his own business.
In 1890, Canadian pharmacist John J. McLaughlin opened a carbonated water plant in Toronto. In 1904, he created Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale. When McLaughlin began shipping his product to New York in 1919, it became so popular that he opened a plant in Manhattan shortly thereafter. Due to its popularity, P. D. Saylor and Associates bought the business from McLaughlin and Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc. was born.
In 1907 the drink was appointed to the Royal Household of the Governor General of Canada, seeing the change in the label from a beaver atop a map of Canada to the present Crown and shield.[1]
Canada Dry's popularity as a mixer began during Prohibition, when its flavor helped mask the taste of homemade liquor. In the 1930s, Canada Dry expanded worldwide, and from the 1950s onward, the company introduced a larger number of products. Today, Canada Dry is owned by Cadbury-Schweppes, but the ginger ale bottles often bear a map of Canada as part of the beverage's logo.
The identification with Canada and the ownership and production by other countries has led to mix-ups in the consumer market. For instance, when the brand was boycotted in some parts of the United States because of Canada's non-participation in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Texan producers and British owners of Canada Dry complained that the boycott was misguided, since Canada Dry was not produced or owned by Canadians.
[edit] Products
|
Canada Dry Ginger Ale is the most popular of Canada Dry's products, and probably the most well recognized brand of ginger ale in North America.
Products:
- Canada Dry Ginger Ale (frequently seen in the television show Gooch)
- Diet Canada Dry Ginger Ale
- Canada Dry "Dry" Ginger Ale (Japan)
- Canada Dry Club Soda
- Canada Dry Tonic Water
- Canada Dry Diet Tonic Water
- Canada Dry Lemon Soda
- Canada Dry Golden Cockerel Ginger Beer
- Sussex Golden Ginger Ale
- Cranberry Ginger Ale
- Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale
- Canada Dry Flavored Sparkling Seltzer Water (Orange, Lime, Raspberry, Cherry)
- Canada Dry Cream Soda (Limited availablity in U.S)
- Pineapple Canada Dry (limited US availabilty?)
- Peach Canada Dry (limited in US?)
- Black Cherry Wishniak (limited in US?)
- Pink Grapefruit Canada Dry (available in Peru only)
[edit] Quotes
"Dean Martin saw a sign saying "Drink Canada Dry", so he went there and he did." - Dave Allen, similarly attributed to Irish writer Brendan Behan as "I saw a notice which said, 'Drink Canada Dry' and I've just started."
"Nixon drinks Canada Dry" - slogan on a button sold by the Waffle in the 1970s protesting perceived American economic domination of Canada.
"It has the colour of alcohol... tastes like alcohol... but it isn't alcohol" - French slogan of the drink, which got spoofed several times
