MAYrathon Day 3: Bubble Up

As a soda connoisseur (wow I can't spell that word), sometimes I want to check off some of the classics. While my main drive is to try the most bizarre drinks out there, there are also some retro originals that I've always wanted to check off my bucket list. Sodas like Cheerwine, Dad's Root Beer, Ski Soda and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter are some of the drinks that have always intrigued me even though it may not lead to me having anything funny (when has that ever stopped me?) or interesting to say. Bubble Up is one of those such beverages. What is Bubble Up? Let's partake on a Wikipedia history lesson, shall we?

Unlike a lot of old timey sodas that stated as a health tonic or segregation enabler, Bubble Up was just a simple lemon-lime flavored soda originating in 1919 in Sandusky, Ohio. The soda, bolstering the tagline, "A Kiss of Lemon, A Kiss of Lime," debuted ten years before 7Up and was Coca-Cola's premiere lemon-lime soda long before Sprite came long. After financial trouble and tax fraud, the company was passed around like a Carson City harlot until finding a home with the Dad's Root Beer company in 2007 where it's still distrusted today. Also apparently a favorite of the late Merle Haggard.

I've wondered about the taste of this one for quite some time, so let's give it a shot. The smell is very lemony with a little lime afterthought. The taste is...different than what I expected. It's very flat tasting (and this is a fresh bottle) and really more resembles the taste of a Mountain Dew rather than a Sprite. Not a bad taste, but certainly different from what I was expecting. Happy to cross this one of the Soda Bucket List. Now where's that margarine spread? 

So I Went to an Ethnic Market (Five months ago)...(Part Two)...

Ah the old Beverage Shack. A lot of memories here. It's so good that I've kept up not only with good facial hygiene, but also with this blog. Why 2014 has sure had its share of blog-related laughs hasn't it folks? Let's take a look back at my last post dated...January 29th? Hmmm. Well I'm sure I had some sort of explanation for my long absence; what does my last sentence of that post say? "See you next week for more ethnic treats!" Okay think, Matty. You can fix this. Just tell a little fib and go on like nothing ever happened.


Hey everyone! Wow that Daylight Savings Time sure can throw things off am I right? Well a week has gone by and like I promised, we're here to explore more delicious ethnic beverages I recently (I hope they're not expired) purchased at Ishtar Ethnic foods in Novi, Michigan. Without further ado, let's delve into two more foreign fizzy flavors of...uh...fun?

#3 - Kazouza's Lemon Mint Sparking Fruit Drink

Wow what a shelf life!

This light green contraption comes to us all the way from everyone's favorite vacation destination: Zakroun, Lebanon. What really caught my attention here was the flavor. It seems like such an obvious and refreshing combination, but I don't think I've ever had it. I know I've had cocktails and even water muddled with the two ingredients, but never a soda. I was intrigued and honestly, when have the Lebanese ever let anyone down? Have they? I know nothing about politics. Anyway. Looking at the ingredients shows that it's made from cane sugar which is always a bonus and comes packed with Esters of Wood Rosins. Esters...of Wood...Rosins. You know what, I'm not even going to look it up because I am terrified to learn what that could possibly be. Ignorance is bliss Mr. Kazouza. Let's crack this bad boy open and give it a sniff. (sniff) And it smells like toothpaste. EXACTLY like toothpaste. But how does it taste? Thankfully not like toothpaste. It's actually pretty good. I definitely taste the lemon, the mint and the wood rosins. This is a really refreshing summer-type drink. I'd say it's pretty much the Lebanese non-alcoholic version of a mojito. Not bad at all!



#4 - Legendary Uludag Gazoz
Now I know what you're thinking, "Oh my God! Did you really get your hands on THE legendary Uludag Gazoz!?!?" Yes, as unbelievable as it may sound, I have obtained a bottle of the most legendary Turkish orange soda in the history of mankind. It glistens with perfection as my unworthy eyes are drawn to its awesome mountains and vague 1930 dated label. Not to mention the truly epic 4% REAL orange juice in every bottle. And, oh my, such off-the-charts ingredients as "flavoring", "coloring" and "CO2." I truly don't know if I am noble enough to bathe my taste buds in such mythical product. Tis as if Santa Claus himself squeezed out the carbonated soda from Jesus's orange juice machine. Well, I've come this far - I may as well partake in some Gazoz. (puts undeserving lips to heavenly nectar) It's...It's...IT'S...flat Orange Fanta. Legendary my ass.

Well it's good to be back in the shack once again. Tune in next week (I promise this time) where I take a look at what can only be described as a Harry Potter soda ripoff.