Detroit's defining soda: a deep-aged ginger ale James Vernor barreled in 1862, served from his Woodward Avenue pharmacy in 1866, vanilla-and-spice deep from 4 years in oak. Served straight or in a Boston Cooler.

Vernors Ginger Ale was created by Detroit pharmacist James Vernor, who blended ginger, vanilla and spices in an oak barrel in 1862 and set it aside while he served in the Civil War. Upon his return in 1866, the four-year-aged blend had developed the deep flavour that became the canonical Vernors recipe, first sold from his Woodward Avenue soda fountain that year. The original Woodward Avenue location in Detroit ran continuously from 1866 until 1985. Today owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, Vernors retains a deeply local following in Michigan; it is the structural ingredient in the Boston Cooler.

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