In Search of Dry Grape Schweppes
Back when I lived on the east coast of the US, I had a ritual when I visited NYC. I’d stop in Hudson News after I got off the train, buy a can of Dry Grape Schweppes and the New York edition of the New York Times, two things I loved and couldn’t find anywhere else. I did the same thing before I got on the train home. Then I moved across country, and visit the east coast much more rarely. During that time, Dry Grape Schweppes has gotten even harder to find. Hudson News no longer carries it. Grocery stores might, but I have a hard time seeing myself hauling around a 2L bottle on a day trip to the city.
I was reminded of this loss recently when I did a google search for a lip balm, and saw there was a Dry Grape Schweppes flavor. I Googled the soda, and saw that it was still available, but only in very limited areas in the Northeast US. Instead of going through mail-order shenanigans, my usual MO when a strange craving like this arises, I decided to craft a facsimile. I bought a 2L bottle of Canada Dry (which I prefer to Schweppes as a not-that-gingery ginger ale; in general I like my ginger ale very strong, like Natural Brew’s) and some grape soda. I used Blue Sky’s Natural Grape Soda. I mixed them in a glass. Voila. Grape ginger ale. Right here in my zip code.
May 14th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Equal parts ginger ale and grape soda?
May 14th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I played with it, and it always came out well–half and half was good, two parts ginger ale and one part grape. At least as much ginger ale as grape was my only guide.
May 14th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I am so trying this.
Wonder if it’d be good as a mixer for a cocktail.
May 14th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I’m not sure that it would–it’s not strongly flavored, so adding another element might sink it. It might work if you found a stronger tasting grape; the Blue Sky was pretty mild.
May 15th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I think my mother did the same thing with Canada Dry and Welches grape juice.
May 16th, 2009 at 9:12 am
FYI, I blogged about this yesterday. Tasty. But the general consensus among commenters was that it begs to be tried with vodka.