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Hey Screamin’ Try This Episode: Detroit’s Black Cherry Vernors Float

Hey Screamin’ Try This New Episode Detroit’s Black Cherry Vernors Float Michigan’s Favorite Black Cherry Vernors Is Back For A Limited Time. After a long hiatus, Dr. Pepper/7Up company has…

Het Screamin Try This
William Spurrier

Hey Screamin' Try This New Episode Detroit's Black Cherry Vernors Float

Michigan's Favorite Black Cherry Vernors Is Back For A Limited Time. After a long hiatus, Dr. Pepper/7Up company has decided to re-introduce a new flavor. Black Cherry Vernors has hit store shelves as of this week.

The return of Black Cherry Vernors gave my sidekick in crime WCSX's Donielle Flynn an idea to try something new. So we came up with our own Detroit Black Cherry Vernors Float. Must say a perfect addition to Summer. Detroit's Black Cherry Vernors available for a limited time in stores before it's all gone.

PopScott Randall

Vernors Black Cherry Is Back

Vernors' fans, it is time to unite and rise up.  Let's make Vernors the official drink of Michigan.  Please sign our petition and show your support for the 150+ year Michigan tradition.  Who didn't grow on Vernors just as Vernor’s Ginger Ale grew up with Detroit? Vernors is a part of our Michigan history.  Click below to SIGN and please share with fellow Vernor's  Ginger Ale fans.

Donielle Flynn and I started the petition through Change.org. You don’t have to pay to sign (but they will ask, just pass). Would you be willing to sign and help build momentum for making Vernors The Official Drink of Michigan?  We’d love to have you join our efforts, but we are NOT asking you for funding. Big Jim’s House, led by the misinformation guru, Ryan Logan, has a petition going for Faygo.  Donielle Flynn and I think Faygo is a wonderful part of Michigan history… A definite close second place behind Vernors.  If you’d like to sign their petition, CLICK HERE.  I believe it is worth noting that the MOST Detroit based and made pop on the market today is actually TOWNE CLUB.  Scroll down to learn more about Vernors and how special it is to Michigan culture.

Donielle Flynn recently had a Vernors'w rally at Cruisin’ US-12.  James Vernor V joined us at the rally! You can check out the pictures HERE.

The 8 Best Reasons Why Vernors Should Be The Official Drink of Michigan

Going ALL THE WAY BACK to 1866, before Michiganders called pop "pop," soda fountains existed... but not in Michigan. James Vernor's first soda fountain opened in Detroit and became the first and ONLY place in the world where you could enjoy Vernor's Ginger Ale. History is one of the 8 best reasons why Vernors should be the Official Drink of Michigan.  Dr. Pepper is proud to have our pharmacist's creation as part of their practice.  Drpeppermuseum.com has an entire section dedicated to the history of Vernors and notes that "it remains America’s oldest surviving soft drink."

Screamin' Scott and I started the petition through Change.org. You don't have to pay to sign (but they will ask, just pass). Would you be willing to sign and help build momentum for making Vernors The Official Drink of Michigan?  We'd love to have you join our efforts, but we are NOT asking you for funding.   Big Jim's House, led by the misinformation guru, Ryan Logan, has a petition going for Faygo.  Screamin' Scott and I think Faygo is a wonderful part of Michigan history... A definite close second place behind Vernors.  If you'd like to sign their petition, CLICK HERE.  I believe it is worth noting that the MOST Detroit based and made pop on the market today is actually TOWNE CLUB.  Scroll down to learn more about Vernors and how special it is to Michigan culture.

The 8 Best Reasons Why Vernors Should Be The Official Drink of Michigan

Vernor's Is the Original Soft Drink of Michigan

James Vernor was a junior clerk at a Detroit drugstore when he enlisted in Michigan's 4th Calvary and went to fight in the Civil War. The next part of James' story is a direct excerpt for detroithistorical.org:

"He was experimenting with a stomach-calming tonic of vanilla, spices and ginger, which he left behind in an oak cask. When Vernor returned four years later, he found that his elixir had transformed into a zesty, sweet, gingery drink complimented by the wood’s aging process."

James Vernor enlisted to fight in the Civil War. He came back four years later to find his elixir had transformed into something life-changing.  In 1866, James Vernor open the first, and ONLY soda fountain in the world serving Vernor's Ginger Ale, in Detroit, Michigan.

First and Foremost Vernors Is Delicious

Huffpost.com has a great article on Vernors for people unfamiliar with our beloved drink.  I know what you're thinking, "Who doesn't know about Vernors?"  Certainly, Vernors had become more of a nationally known product since Dr. Pepper bought it, but Vernors' biggest consumer bases are Michigan and Florida.  The Huffington Post refers to Vernors' taste as "like a gingery cream soda and makes Canada Dry taste like Sprite by comparison." (no offense intended to Canada Dry).

 

Vernors Is Still Made In Michigan

It is 100% true that the Vernor family sold the company decades ago.  I don't know why, and frankly, it's not my business to get in the Vernor family wallet.  Vernors changed hands several times and ended up part of a worldwide distributor and, in my opinion, a company that very much cares about the future of Vernors.  Dr. Pepper is based out of Texas, but Vernors' flagship plant is right here in the great state of Michigan.  The plant is located in Holland and is a key production plant for Vernors in Michigan and throughout the midwest.  Vernors is sold in 33 states across the U.S.A.  I feel bad for those other 17 states.

Vernors Is An Award Winner

Vernors Ginger Ale has been chosen as the best in many ginger ale favor-tasting comparisons.  It has been named "The Best Ginger Ale" by seriouseats.com, prepfordwife.com, and others plus it has a 4.6 rating by Amazon users.  It's also  Screamin' Scott's (and my) favorite Ginger Ale.

Vernorsscreamin photo

Vernors Is An Ingredient In Many Recipes

More than one Michigander has commented on how well Vernors works as a mixer with Crown Royal and other liquors.  See Screamin' Scott's "Pitch for Vernors" for more drink recipes. Vernors is also great in food recipes.  In the '50s an entire cookbook of Vernors' recipes was published!  You can find out more about Vernors' recipes at thehenryford.org.

 

Vernors Equals Fond Memories

Growing up, when I was sick, I remember ONE THING that my mom always gave me: Vernors.  My mom was born in Tennessee but moved to Michigan when she married my dad.  Mom quickly picked up on our Vernors' tradition.  My brother and both my sisters also have fond memories of being taken care of by our mother.  Part of that care was Vernors.   There was no going for stitches, etc.  Our mom's first aid kit consisted of butterfly bandaids and Vernors.

 

Vernors Is The Key Component in a Boston Cooler

There's been much debate on the origin of the Boston Cooler. but here, in the metro Detroit area, the definition of a Boston Cooler is Vernors and vanilla ice cream (preferably with Vicky's Homemade Ice Cream).  The historical argument stems from Detroit's Boston Avenue which was in close proximity to Vernor's original soda fountain location.

 

You Can Drink Vernors WARMED

The only pop that I know of that's considered a delicious drink AND has medicinal purposes in Vernors.  While the idea of warm pop may not sound delicious, warm Vernors to soothe an upset stomach or soar throat? Heck yeah.  What other pop, soda, or coke can say that?

Vernors is considered to be such a "cure-all" by Michiganders that during Covid, the Shelby Township police department (humorously) sprayed everything down with Vernors to combat the virus.

 

Here's Our Petition One More Time

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Born in Mt Clemens, Screamin’ Scott has been a part of the Detroit airwaves for 30-plus years. With 40 years of experience in radio. When he’s not out on the streets for WCSX, you can find him devoting time to local charities with his, “Screamin Angels”; and for 16 years with Rock 4 Tots charity. And last 10 years with his local band, "Chit!." Screamin Scott likes to write about nostalgic Detroit area memories, classic rock, and local metro Detroit topics.