![[logo] Ale 8 One](/images/logo_internal.gif){kind=logo}
History
Ale-8-One, the soft drink unique to Kentucky, has been bottled in Winchester since 1926.
Still a closely guarded family secret, the Ale-8-One formula was developed by G.L. Wainscott in the 1920’s after experimentation with ginger-blended recipes he acquired during extensive travels in Northern Europe. He sponsored one of America’s first “name the product” contests, and “A Late One” was the winning entry. The drink’s logo, Ale-8-One, was adopted as a pun of its description as the latest thing in soft drinks.
Wainscott had been in the soft drink business in Winchester since 1902, bottling soda water and several flavored drinks in a plant on North Main Street. In 1906, he introduced Roxa-Kola, a popular rival to the cola drinks then available. By 1935, Wainscott had converted a livery stable on West Broadway and moved his growing bottling operation.
Jane Rogers Wainscott inherited half of her husband’s bottling stock at his death in 1944. The other half was divided among the company’s employees. At her death in 1954, Mrs. Wainscott left her interest to her brother, Frank A. Rogers, Sr.
Mr. Rogers bought out his partners in 1962, and incorporated the Ale-8-One Bottling Company. Frank A. Rogers, Jr., became manager, was later named president, and the phenomenal growth of the new corporation began.
The company built a new plant on Carol Road in 1965 and production of Roxa-Kola was discontinued in 1968. By 1974, the remaining Wainscott flavored drinks were dropped in order to concentrate on Ale-8-One, and Frank A. Rogers, III joined the Company’s management.
In 1976, a warehouse was constructed on an adjacent lot, and in 1981, a two-story syrup room was added to the main building. In 1989, the company built an extensive addition which tripled warehouse space and includes a two-story office building.
The Ale-8-One Bottling Company experienced monumental growth in 2003. The company launched a new product, and Rogers’ oldest son Fielding was named vice president of the family business. On March 4, 2003, after twenty years in development, Rogers perfected the formula for Diet Ale 8. Diet Ale 8 is the first new product offering of the company since Ale-8-One was launched in 1926. It contains no calories, sodium or aspartame. State-of- the-art sweeteners sucralose, (Splenda®) and acesulfame potassium (Ace K®) were chosen for their qualities to sweeten without leaving the aftertaste commonly associated with aspartame.
The 80th Anniversary year of 2006 re-introduced Ale-8-One Suckers and pioneered Ale-8-One Salsa. After an 18 year lapse, Ale-8-One and Ruth Hunt Candies in Mt. Sterling joined forces once again to supply the Ale-8-One Sucker to fans of the Kentucky soft drink. Working with the Kentucky Proud program through the Department of Agriculture, the bottling company commissioned Ale-8-One Salsa. Unique as the Commonwealth of Kentucky and Ale-8-One, the salsa is made with Kentucky-grown products, Ale-8-One concentrate and flavors. Available in two varieties, sweet and spicy, Ale-8-One Salsa is available wherever Ale-8-One soft drinks are found.
Ale-8-One Apple Butter was formulated in the fall of 2007. A second product line directly impacting Kentucky agriculture, Ale-8-One Apple Butter has been created using the pulp remaining when apple cider is pressed and the juice extracted. Utilizing the pressed pulp from 10 Kentucky orchards, and adding Ale-8-One concentrate and flavors, Ale-8-One Apple Butter gives worth to a previously valueless product.
The spring of 2008 brought Bandy and Bailey’s Ale-8-One Barbeque Sauce. Popular country morning radio host Michael Bandy of 92.9 The Bear presented his favorite sauce to Ale-8-One hoping to add the unique syrup and incorporating Kentucky honey and sorghum to make what he called, “the best barbeque sauce I’ve ever had.” even better. Bandy must know his barbeque sauce as several area restaurants have added it to their menus. It can be found in Barbequed Chicken Pizza at Theresa’s Pizza and Grinders and Mancino’s in Lexington; Pulled Pork at O’Neill’s Irish Pub in Lexington and on the chicken and brisket at The Engine House Deli in Winchester.
Tours of the factory are offered on Fridays at 10:50 a.m. with advanced notice. The Ale-8-One Company Store is located in the main office building at 25 Carol Road, Winchester, Kentucky. The Company Store features many interesting specialty items to the public 8:30-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. If you live in an area where Ale-8-One is not yet available, you may call (859) 744-3484 to place an order for Ale-8-One to be delivered to your home via UPS or visit our website at www.ale-8-one.com.
Today Ale-8-One is operated by Frank A. Rogers, III and owned by him and his children.