Inspired by Chattanooga’s long history of “cola” production, Batch 045: Kola Infused hits shelves exclusively at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery on Thursday, September 18th.
Before cola became a global phenomenon, it was brewed in apothecaries and soda fountains across the American South. But it was in Chattanooga where cola truly fizzed to life: Chattanooga put cola in a bottle, made it portable, and turned it into a legacy.
This Experimental Batch is a throwback to that time when all-natural infusions (including those with real kola nut) were the norm. Kola Infused merges the flavors of classic 19th and 20th century American cola with the complementary flavors of high malt bourbon.
So what is the difference between “cola” and “kola”? Cola is a blend of classic flavors including vanilla, cinnamon, citrus, and… kola nut. While kola refers to the seed of a tree species (cola nitida) native to the tropical rainforests of Africa. Their caffeine-containing seeds are used as flavoring ingredients in various carbonated soft drinks, such as cola…