Vimto
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Vimto (logo).PNG Vimto is a red soft drink in the United Kingdom. It contains the juice of grapes, raspberries and blackcurrants.
Vimto was first formulated in 1908 by Manchester herb importer John Noel Nichols, who saw the market opening for soft drinks due to the temperance movement and the passage of the 1908 Licencing Act (which attempted to drastically reduce the number of licenced premises in England and Wales). It was originally sold under the name Vimtonic, which Nichols shortened to Vimto in 1912.
It is currently made by Vimto Soft Drinks Ltd, a division of Nichols plc. It has acquired cult status amongst its consumers and celebrates its 100 year anniversary in 2008.
Vimto has also been made into a candy.
Vimto is also manufactured under licence in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, although the formula may be different and more concentrated. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Arabic version uses an older 'pre-relaunch' formula.
Vimto was, somewhat confusingly, also made under license in the United Kingdom by A.G. Barr until recently. The Scottish blend was remarkably sweeter than its counterpart made by Vimto Soft Drinks, and helped the drink become more popular in Scotland.
Both a still, dilutable version ("Vimto Cordial") and a carbonated pre-mixed version ("Fizzy Vimto") are available in the UK. Whilst Vimto has its origins in the North of England it is increasingly growing in popularity and can now be found nationally. The Cordial version is more widely sold and is available in dilutable cordial and ready to drink varieties. However, make-shift version of the Fizzy variety could theoretically be made by mixing dilutable Vimto cordial with soda (club-soda) or other carbonated water.
Cheeky Vimto is an alcoholic cocktail which, ironically, tastes like Vimto but does not include Vimto in its ingredients. It is made by mixing Port with Blue WKD.
Vimto is also available in a summer flavour, this contains ingredients such as orange "Who put Oranges in my Vimto?" and Apple "Who put apples in my Vimto?" both of which are cordial products. Vimto was the UK's fastest growing soft drinks brand by value in 2005 (as measured by AC Nielsen)