Squamscot is another brand that has a very long history and I rather like that this one is still family owned and run. The Conner family bottling works was established in 1863 on the family farm in Newfields, New Hampshire. In the early days, the soda, called "tonic" at the time was named "Connermade". When his son Alfred Conner, Sr. took over he had the foresight to drill an artesian well on sight rather than using public water supplies. Some contribute it's quality to this water supply. Most beer brewmasters will tell you that water quality is of supreme importance, so perhaps this is the case. The small production sextupled during the prohibition years to meet demand. Alfred Conner, Sr. bought their first modern bottling machine in 1938 and was nicknamed "Dixie". Today, Dixie sits in the same spot it was placed in the day it was delivered. Alfred Conner, Jr. led in the years after WWII and today his sons, Tom and Dan, continue the family business. Drinkers will note that the bottle caps still sport the initials CBW.
This drink has a rich flavor befitting of the term "old fashioned." Black Cherry sodas are usually delicious but this one has that dark cherry flavor that reminds me of the old-fashioned hard candy sticks found in road-side shops on family vacations. It's a flavor that starts on the tip of the tongue with a tiny bit of acidity, then ends at the rear of the mouth with cherry and finally, after the gulp you get a smokey cherry finish. In my mind, this soda may be hard to pair with any specific food but makes a good dessert drink on its own. I'm certainly looking forward to more flavors from Squamscot in the future.
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