The problem with high-fructose corn syrup is that, well, it tastes like high-fructose corn syrup. It has an aftertaste that stays with you, turning the initial sweetness into something less pleasant than what first hits your taste buds. That may be one reason why Empire Bottling Works makes its line of sodas with 100 percent cane sugar.
The small company out of Rhode Island brews sarsparilla, orange, root beer, ginger ale and other soda flavors, but the standout is the Lemon-Lime Rickey.
Historically, a Rickey is alcoholic, made with lime juice, club soda and gin, while some switch out the gin for bourbon, whiskey or other liquors. But Empire’s is a teetotaler’s version, leaving out the liquor for a combo of artificial and natural flavor extracts, cane sugar and artesian-well water.
Some sodas taste too syrupy, carbonated and artificial while others lack potency. Empire, though, does it just right, brewing all of the ingredients in the Lemon-Lime Rickey proportionately so that you can taste each element in every sip. The result is a clean, refreshing beverage that’s smooth and balanced, not overly sweet and flavorful to boot.
Find a fridge full of these refreshments for $1.09 each at Pointer’s Market in Benton Park.
This article appears in Nov 1-30, 2010.