Ginger Ales Shoutout: Canada Dry vs. Schweppes vs. Seagram's vs. Vernors?

What is ginger ale?

Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger. It can be drunk on its own or used as part of a mixed cocktail.

There are two main types of ginger ale: golden style and dry style.

Golden style fermented ginger ale was invented in the 1850s by Thomas Joseph Cantrell, an Irish pharmacist and surgeon. This ginger ale was dark in color and generally sweet in taste, with a strong ginger spice flavor.

Dry ginger ale was invented in 1904 by Canadian chemist and pharmacist John J. McLaughlin. It was far less sweet than other ginger ales of the time. As a result, he labeled it "dry."

Which are the best ginger ales?

Here are 4 of the most popular ginger ale brands to choose from:

• Vernors

• Canada Dry

• Seagram's

• Schweppes

Among them, Vernors is the golden ginger ale brand. Canada Dry, Seagram's and Schweppes are the major brands of dry ginger ale. But which popular ginger ale should I choose?

Quick View: Comparison List of the Best Ginger Ales

	Canada Dry Ginger Ale	Schweppes Ginger Ale	Seagram’s Ginger Ale	Vernors Ginger Flavored Soda
Calories	130	120	130	140
Carbohydrate	32g	33g	34g	39g
Sugars	32g	32g	33g	38g
Sodium	50mg	60mg	40mg	50mg
Ingredients	Carbonated water, sugar/glucose-fructose, citric acid, sodium benzoate, color, natural flavor.	Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caramel color, natural flavors.	Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, ginger extract and other natural flavors, potassium sorbate (to protect taste), caramel color, sodium benzoate (to protect taste).	Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caramel color, natural and artificial flavors.
Taste	Subtle sweetness and wonderful bubbles Little ginger, little floral and citrus. Delivers the champagne-like experience you want with ginger ale.	Fewer bubbles Milder flavor Almost no ginger flavor	A little less sweet Crisp champagne-like taste	More caramel More ginger flavor more bubbles
Sugar free alternatives	Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale	Schweppes Zero Sugar Ginger Ale	Seagram's Zero Sugar Ginger Ale	Vernors Zero Sugar Ginger Soda

Editor's review: Canada Dry vs. Schweppes vs. Seagram's vs. Vernors: Which is the best ginger ale? 

Although there are many different opinions, my first choice is Canada Dry.

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• First, Canada Dry is a giant in the ginger ale world, known for its beloved classic flavor. Brand awareness is very high.

• Second, Canada Dry doesn't have a strong ginger flavor like Vernors, the gold-style ginger ale on this list, but it does have a pleasant and familiar taste. All I got was a hint of sweetness and some light ginger flavor.

• Third, Canada Dry tastes delicious, with light floral and citrus notes that make it more complex than I expected.

• Fourth, I also love the fizz of Canada Dry, they are even better than those of other dry styles of ginger ales, such as Schweppes. The bubbles are also much finer than other ginger ales.

• Fifth, because Canada Dry has become international, it is available in the United States, Panama, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Japan, and many countries in Europe and the Middle East. Even better, Canada Dry is cheap, and you can get cash back offers when buying it from some retailers, such as Walmart, making it even more cost-effective.

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Real Reviews of the Best Ginger Ale Brands

1. Schweppes Ginger Ale

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While the Schweppes brand initially focused on tonic water, the first ginger ale was introduced in 1870.

This caused an immediate sensation. Sweet, highly carbonated, and characterized by a mild ginger flavor, Schweppes Ginger Ale remains one of the most popular carbonated beverages on the market.

Although its color is almost indistinguishable from Canada Dry, Schweppes is a little less fizzy with a more muted taste. 

Schweppes is not very gingery. A mild ginger flavor is balanced by a bit of citrus tartness from the citric acid. It is a very enjoyable drinking experience, but it lacks the depth of flavor that comes with a truly great ginger ale. But it does taste better with ice.

The best thing about Schweppes is the carbonation. It's filled with lots of little bubbles that will tickle your tongue but not irritate your nose.

The flavor is simple but satisfying. For those of you with a growling stomach, or one night of the week when you're not drinking beer, a crisp old-fashioned ginger ale like Schweppes really does the trick.

2. Canada Dry Ginger Ale 

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Canada Dry does everything Schweppes does, only a little better. Like Schweppes, it's a historic brand, having been launched in 1904 as a dry alternative to sweet ginger ale.

The popularity of Canada Dry as a cocktail mixer is said to have begun during Prohibition because its flavor was perfect for masking the unpleasant taste of bootleg liquor.

This century-old ginger ale is a household name and a favorite for many. Many of us can recall the fizzy feeling when swallowing a Canadian Dry, with its sweet, elegantly balanced flavor rush that coats your throat and covers your tongue in tiny pinprick bubbles.

Canada Dry is similar in color and carbonation to Schweppes. It has more structure, sizzle and mouthfeel than Schweppes.

Canada Dry has significantly more ginger flavor than Schweppes, and the flavor is spicy but not too spicy. It's delicious, with hints of floral and citrus on the nose, making Canada Dry more complex than you might imagine.

Canada Dry Ginger Ale calls itself the "Champagne of soda," and it's bubbly, crisp, and refreshing with just the right amount of ginger flavor. But considering its origin story, Canada Dry is surprisingly one of the sweetest, syrupiest sodas we've ever tried.

3. Seagram’s Ginger Ale

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With Seagram's Ginger Ale billing itself as "naturally flavored," it's easy to presume that it contains real ginger. A further inspection of the soda's ingredients reveals that it contains "ginger extract with other natural flavors." 

Whatever that means, the beverage has a crispy, mild ginger taste that is similar to Canada Dry. 

Plus, it features distinct citrusy notes, making it an ideal mixer for alcoholic beverages and a great addition to cocktails. 

Seagram's is carbonated with tiny bubbles that give it a crisp, Champagne-like mouthfeel. 

Seagram's is sweetened with modern high fructose corn syrup instead of the sugar/glucose-fructose used by Canada Dry, which gives it a slightly less syrupy texture and less overt sweetness. 

Even though it has the same amount of sugar, it feels dryer than Schweppes.

Targeted at adults, the brand conveys the comfortable sophistication that Seagram's can bring to everyday life. 

It emphasizes the clean taste and natural ginger flavor of Seagram's Ginger Ale, making it a great choice for adults looking for a caffeine-free way to unwind and wash away the worries of the day.

4. Vernors Ginger Flavored Soda

($21.94 FROM Amazon)

Vernors Ginger Ale is one of the oldest ginger ale brands in the United States, the brainchild of Detroit pharmacist James Vernor, who began selling the tangy drink in his store in 1866.

Although Vernors recipe has changed over the years, the drink remains one of the most popular ginger ale brands on the market due to its full-bodied flavor and nostalgic feel.

Vernors is highly carbonated. The first thing you notice about it is that it's heavily (some might say aggressively) carbonated. 

Some describe the original as "full-bodied and lively," with the body being attributed to aging in oak barrels and the liveliness being due to the use of more ginger than "dry" ginger ales.

The bubbles made our nose and palate tingle with a spicy sensation. Vernors also has so much vanilla in it that it almost tastes like spicy ginger ale mixed with cream soda. 

It seems to have more caramel in it than other brands as well, which gives it a dark color and a rich flavor. 

The winner is...

I think the best ginger ale is Canada Dry!

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The taste of Canada Dry Ginger Ale is one of sophistication and delicacy, embodied with a subtly sweet and wonderfully fizzy quality. It's the balance of flavors that makes it a standout. The smooth ginger extract adds a touch of spice, contrasted by an underlining sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm the palate.

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