Blenheim Ginger Ale

Blenheim Ginger Ale is a ginger ale bottled by Blenheim Bottlers in Hamer, Dillon County, South Carolina. It was originally bottled in Blenheim, Marlboro County, South Carolina. It was created by a local doctor in 1903 by mixing Jamaica ginger with the local mineral waters, chosen because the flavor of the mineral waters was so strong.

The spring which is the source of the water for the ginger ale was discovered by a man by the name of Spencer who was running from the Red coats during the Civil War. His shoe became stuck in the mud of the natural spring; he left it and kept running. Upon his return, he picked his shoe up and noticed the amount of water in the depression his shoe left. He tasted the water and realized its strong mineral content, which now adds to the distinctive flavor of Blenheim Ginger Ale.

Blenheim is owned by the Schafer family, who also own the world famous South of the Border roadside attraction.

12 oz. bottles of Blenheim #5 Not as Hot (Gold Cap) and Old #3 Hot (Red Cap) ginger ale.

It is sold in 12 ounce bottles.

Charles Kuralt did a segment on Blenheim Ginger Ale for CBS. Penn Jillette is a fan of Blenheim Ginger Ale and wore a Blenheim shirt on the cover of Wired Magazine.

Further reading

• Craft, Robert. Some Like It Hot. Carolina Lifestyle. August 1982.
• Grimes, William. A Southern Ginger Ale With Sting in Its Tail. New York Times, February 25, 1998.
• White, Forest. Hot Stuff: Hale to the Ale in Blenheim Town. Charleston, S.C., Post and Courier, September 22, 1993.

External links

• Official website
• BevNet Review
• Aliverti, Brent. Blenheim Ginger Ale. Includes scan of Penn Jillette in Wired photo. 09 October 2002. Retrieved May 16, 2005.
• Behind Blenheim's. Turner South. Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at 8:54 AM/ET. Retrieved May 16, 2005.
• The Blenheim Ginger Ale Shrine