Kentucky's Most Famous Soft Drink: The Story of Ale-8-One

Kentucky's most famous soft drink got its name from a contest. Ale-8-One, the ginger and citrus soda from Winchester, was invented by G.L. Wainscott in 1926. After perfecting the formula he'd discovered on a trip to northern Europe, he needed a catchy name. He held a contest at the Clark County Fair, and a young girl submitted the winning entry: "A Late One," which was 1920s slang for "the latest thing." The name stuck, and the iconic green bottle has been a Kentucky staple ever since. Wainscott was no stranger to the soda business. He started his company in 1902 after becoming fascinated with a carbonation machine. His first big hit was a cola called Roxa-Kola, named after his wife, Roxanne. That success drew a lawsuit from the country's biggest cola company. In a true David vs. Goliath story, Wainscott fought back and won, not only the lawsuit but the appeal as well. That victory gave him the freedom to continue experimenting, which led directly to his signature ginger-based creation. The secret recipe for Ale-8-One is one of Kentucky's most closely guarded treasures. For over a century, it has been passed down through four generations of Wainscott's family. Today, his great-great-nephew, Fielding Rogers, is the one who carries on the tradition. He is the only person who knows the secret formula, and he mixes every single batch by hand in a special, hidden room, following his great-great-uncle's handwritten notes. That personal touch is what makes Ale-8-One so unique. Every bottle of Ale-8 that goes out into the world starts in that secret room, mixed in small batches by a member of the founding family. It's a tradition that has kept the company independent and the flavor consistent for nearly 100 years. From a county fair contest to a statewide icon, Ale-8-One remains a true Kentucky original, bottled with a story in every sip.