Cheers to cherry: Hundreds line up for first taste of Ale-8’s new cherry soft drink
Published 11:25 am Monday, April 16, 2018
Simone Anangono shows off her cherry Ale-8. Anangono was one of 200 customers at Shell on 50 Hubbard Road to get a free sample of the new flavored drink and the souvenir cup. "It's really good," she said.
Hundreds of customers at Shell on Hubbard Road received free samples of the new cherry Ale-8 and a souvenir cup on its debut Friday. (Photos by Lashana Harney)
Lauren Challis takes her first sip of the new cherry Ale-8 soft drink. Challis was one of 200 people who lined up to receive a free sample and a souvenir cup Friday at the Shell on 50 Hubbard Road.
Adrienne Bewley was the first customer lined up to try cherry Ale-8. Bewley drove from Lexington and waited an hour before taking a sip of the historical new flavored soft drink. Bewley was the first of 200 customers who received a free sample and souvenir cup Friday. (Photos by Lashana Harney)
More than 200 people lined up outside of the Shell at 50 Hubbard Road to take a sip of a Cherry Ale-8 fountain drink Friday afternoon.
In just 20 minutes, the first 200 sped through the line to receive free samples of the drink and a souvenir cup.
Adrienne Bewley drove from Lexington and was the first in line an hour early to try the new drink Friday.
“I’ve been a fan of Ale-8 all my life,” Bewley said. “And this is their first new flavor ever, and I was excited to try it.”
Cherry Ale-8 is the first new flavor in Ale-8’s 92-year history, Chris Doyle, Ale-8 marketing director, said.
The flavored drink will continue to debut this weekend in five convenience store locations around Winchester and the Red River Gorge.
“We’ve been working on this for a long time, about two years. We’ve created I think dozens of different recipes,” Doyle said. “We’ve tested it with hundreds of consumers to make sure that we get it right.”
In May, Ale-8 will offer the cherry flavor in more soda fountain machines, single-serve bottles and six-packs in select convenience, retail and grocery stores in its core market, according to a release. Those cities include Lexington, Frankfort, Richmond, Winchester, Bowling Green, Owensboro and Elizabethtown, among others. The six-packs will have a retail price of $3.49, and will also be available through the company’s website.
Doyle said Ale-8 made the new flavor with real cherries and real sugar in addition to the secret family recipe. The drink contains no artificial colors or sweeteners and is 120 calories per 12-ounce serving, according to a release.
“It’s amazing to see all of our loyal fans out here to give it a try,” Doyle said.
About Lashana Harney
Lashana Harney is a reporter for The Winchester Sun. Her beats include schools and education, business and commerce, Winchester Municipal Utilities and other news. To contact her, email lashana.harney@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0015.
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