Canada Dry is a brand of
soft drinks[2] founded in 1904 and owned since 2008 by the American company
Dr Pepper Snapple (now
Keurig Dr Pepper).[3] For over 100 years, Canada Dry has been known mainly for its
ginger ale, though the company also manufactures a number of other soft drinks and
mixers. Although it (as the brand name suggests) originated in Canada, Canada Dry is now produced in many countries such as the
United States,
Panama,
Mexico,
Chile,
Costa Rica,
Japan, and in a number of countries of
Europe and the
Middle East.
Etymology
The "Dry" in the brand's name refers to not being sweet, as in a
dry wine. When
John J. McLaughlin, who first formulated "Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale", originally made his new soft drink, it was far less sweet than other ginger ales then available; as a result, he labelled it "dry". The name has given rise to a clichéd joke: "Don't drink Canada dry", uttered when someone is taking too long (at your expense and patience) at a
water fountain.[4]
When McLaughlin began shipping his product to
New York, it became so popular that he opened a plant in
Manhattan shortly thereafter. After McLaughlin's death in 1914, the company was run briefly by his brother,
Samuel McLaughlin. P. D. Saylor and Associates bought the business from the McLaughlin family in 1923 and formed Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc., a public company.[1]
Canada Dry's popularity as a mixer began during
Prohibition, when its flavor helped mask the taste of homemade
liquor.[8] In the 1930s, Canada Dry expanded worldwide. From the 1950s onward, the company introduced a larger number of products.
In 2019, Canada Dry faced a false advertisement lawsuit from the U.S. Government.[13] According to researchers, the drink did not have enough ginger for it to have health benefits and for the company to claim that it was "made from real ginger."[13] Instead of defending their ginger content by going to court, they decided to settle by no longer making this claim.[14] Dr Pepper decided to offer payment to those who purchased Canada Dry for personal use since 2013.[15][16]
After the settlement with the U.S. Government, a class-action lawsuit has also been requested in Canada.[17] As of June 2021[update], Canada Dry still advertised their drinks as "made from real ginger" in Canada.[17] The Supreme Court of British Columbia case was settled with the defendant Canada Dry Mott's Inc. agreeing to pay $200,000, inclusive of all expenses and fees, plus disbursements of $18,607.61, but it did not require the defendant to change its product labelling or advertising for products marketed in Canada. The settlement amount was to be distributed to the class members by way of
cy-près donation to the Law Foundation of British Columbia, while two lead plaintiffs, Victor Cardoso and Lionel Ravvin, received $1,500 each.[18][19]
Canada Dry Sparkling
Seltzer Water (unflavored and mineral free)
Canada Dry Flavored Sparkling Seltzer Water (Lemon Lime, Mandarin Orange, Raspberry, Triple Berry, Pomegranate Cherry, Peach Mango and Cranberry Lime; all available in low sodium and sodium free varieties) [21]
Cranberry Ginger Ale (Canada during the Christmas season, although also available in the United States during the Christmas season)
Blackberry Ginger Ale (Canada, spring 2016, summer 2022 & 2023; also sold in some U.S. stores as 20 oz. bottles, but not all stores that sell Canada Dry sell the Blackberry variant)
Canada Dry Pineapple (U.S.)
Canada Dry Peach (U.S.)
Black Cherry Wishniak (U.S.)
Island Lime (U.S.)
Wild Cherry (U.S.)
Vanilla Cream (U.S.)
Pomegranate (Canada spring time 2023)
Marketing
Nylon Studios produced the song used in the Rabbit's "Jack's Farm" commercial featuring Canada Dry Ginger Ale.[24] A
Cantonese version of the ad was also produced.
^Witzel, Michael Karl; Gyvel Young-Witzel (May 1998). Soda pop!: from miracle medicine to pop culture. Town Square Books. p. 68.
ISBN978-0-89658-326-9.