Charlotte soft drink showdown: SunDrop or Cheerwine?
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The Charlotte region is home to two deliciously quirky niche soft drinks with histories in the community that go back decades. This topic was broached on a recent episode of The Charlotte Podcast, where the seemingly innocuous question of “Which is better: SunDrop or Cheerwine?” was posed to our guests, the Charlotte Storytellers. Things became… heated.
In the fallout from the conversation, it became apparent that just about everyone has an unreasonably strong opinion on this topic. We need closure on this topic and would like your input in order to settle this matter once and for all. To ensure that you’re educated before making a decision, here’s a brief history on each and a tale of the tape for comparison. Please read each with careful consideration, and then vote in the poll below to tell us which you prefer: SunDrop or Cheerwine?
Cheerwine
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Cheerwine is a cherry-flavored soda produced by the Carolina Beverage Corporation of Salisbury, NC. The flavor was introduced in 1917, and the Carolina Beverage Corporation claims to be “the oldest continuing soft drink company still run by the same family.” In recent years, Cheerwine has a been used as a quirky ingredient in a number of food innovations including Krispy Kreme donuts in 2010 and the “Captain Cheerwine” cocktail which is just Captain Morgan and Cheerwine. Innovative!
SunDrop
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The SunDrop flavor was developed in New Haven, Missouri and was patented in 1930. For years it was sold around the South under different brand names. In 1953, the drink was bottled as SunDrop for the first time in Gastonia. The brand has since been bought and sold a few times, and is now part of the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (formerly Cadbury Schweppes beverages unit), but its strong ties to the region remain. SunDrop is also a decent mixer in cocktails in its own right, with the “Sun Beam” consisting of SunDrop and Jim Beam as a particularly dangerous cocktail.
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Vote here:
Which soda do you prefer?
Cover image background via Wikipedia.