Mexican soft drink headed north

Peñafiel, Mexico’s leading flavored soft drink, will become available in the U.S.

The drink, owned by Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, is a lightly carbonated one enhanced with minerals. It has been manufactured for nearly 80 years.

"Peñafiel is a part of everyday life in Mexico, where it has been enjoyed for 79 years,” Stephanie Bazan, CSAB brand manager, said in a press release. “We are honored to introduce Peñafiel in the United States where it is sure to evoke memories of home and a strong sense of the drink’s unique Mexican heritage.”

Peñafiel will be available in 16.9-ounce and 2-liter bottles in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and Sacramento in five varieties: an unflavored version and four delicious flavors: Pineapple, Tuti Fruti, Mandarin and Grapefruit. It will go on sale in additional m arkets as demand rises.

To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Reed's: Texan for soft drink

Reed's soft drinks, particularly its original flavor Ginger Brew, are iconic drinks in the United Kingdom. Now, with the signing of a distribution agreement with D.B. Miller of Austin, they're coming to Texas.

Reed's line of flavors -- Original, Extra, Premium, Raspberry, and Spiced Apple -- are non-alcoholic, freshly made in a brewery using fresh ginger root, spices, and fruit juices along with filtered sparkling water.

The company explains its drinks this way:

'"Other soft drinks use flavor crystals, chemicals, or other flavorings to maintain an inexpensive and consistent taste. That's why some 'natural' drinks have no color! All the flavor and health benefits of Reed's brews are from the actual ingredients. The use of fresh ingredients leads to slight variations in both flavor and the heat of the ginger.

"Reed's Original Ginger Brew was our first creation, and is a Jamaican recipe for homemade ginger ale using 17 grams of fresh ginger root, lemon, lime, honey, fructose, pineapple, herbs and spices. Reed's Extra Ginger Brew is the same recipe, but has 25 grams of fresh ginger root for a stronger bite. Reed's Premium Ginger Brew is the no-fructose version of Reed's Original Ginger Brew, sweetened only with honey and pineapple juice.

''Reeds Raspberry Ginger Brew is brewed from 17 grams of fresh ginger root, raspberry juice, and lime. It is 20% raspberry juice and sweetened with fruit juice and fructose. Reed's Spiced Apple Brew uses 8 grams of fresh ginger root, the finest tart German apple juice, and such apple pie spices as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Spiced Apple Brew is 50% apple juice and sweetened with fruit juice and fructose.

''Reed's Cherry Ginger Brew, our newest addition, is freshly brewed from sparkling filtered water, fructose, 22 grams of fresh ginger root, cherry juice from concentrate, and spices.''

To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.