Vess Pina Colada

For more on the history of Vess, see my earlier post here.

Now to my recollection, I don't think I've ever actually had a true Pina colada. But I expect a least a little hint of coconut since I've made Pina coladas in a bar I used work at. After opening, it certainly carries the scent of coconut with it and a touch of citrus. It's a very sweet and sugary soda, but not strong in flavor. Although very light, I find it to be pretty pleasant. However all these mass market sodas are made with artificial flavors and I just find that drinking a bottle of chemicals instead of real extracts and natural products takes something away from the indulgence of it. Other than that I could see using this as a quick mixer with some booze or simply a light soda for a hot summer afternoon.

Vess Whistle Orange Soda

Vess was founded in 1916 by Sylvester "Vess" Jones. Charles L. Grigg was working for Vess when he developed Whistle around 1920. He later left Vess and the Whistle brand with it, he went on to found the Howdy Company and eventually created 7-Up. 

At the time Whistle was the brand name used for their Orange flavor, while the others were branded as Vess. After the stock market crash of 1929, Vess sold the company to Donald Schneebarger and still more flavors were added to the Vess brand line-up. The company was bought by beverage conglomerate, Cott Beverages in 1994. 

Being that the drink has changed hands to a modern bottler and is no longer sold in glass it's hard to say if it is still anything at all like the original drink. This bottle may be old since I found it at a gas station and there was no distinct release of carbonation upon opening. But it's still not bad. The tangy citrous flavor holds up and is not overly sweet and syrupy. Refreshingly cool too for this summer heat. 

©2009 by Ross White

During the heydays of the carbonated beverage St. Louis was a center of activity for many companies, probably helped by the fact that a large industry of beer bottling already existed there. The old Bottling District near the Edward Jones Dome is no longer home to this industry but the name remains. The landmark Vess Bottle can still be found there and plans are in the works for neighborhood redevelopment.