Paul, mentioning Cheerwine (which I like, by the
way) to someone who went to the University of Georgia is like saying
UNC is the oldest state university: it opens an argument that goes on
forever (for those who don’t know, UGa was chartered in 1785 but didn’t
open for classes until 1801. UNC was chartered in 1789 but began
classes in 1795).
Those who attended UGa before 1995 are familiar with a cherry, burgundy-colored soft drink called Budwine.
It originated in Watkinsville, Ga., a small town south of Athens, in
about 1908. Many (in Georgia, anyway) feel it was the inspiration for
North Carolina’s almost identical Cheerwine some years later. It was
originally called Bludwine until 1921 when the feds made it take any
reference to “blood” out of the name.
So, while I may give diet
Cheerwine a try (do they actually make a diet Cheerwine?), I’ll think
of Bludwine/Budwine as I drink it.
