We were expecting something tasty when we wandered up to the DRY Soda Co. booth at NRA Show 2009 this morning, but we weren't anticipating something this unique: a list of natural ingredients that tops out at four, a delicious wallop packed into only 45 calories per 12-ounce bottle and its own list of recommended food pairings. We’d say that cucumber soda never sounded or tasted so good, but that would imply that we had tasted cucumber soda before.
The Seattle-based DRY produces a growing line of lightly sweetened, all-natural sparkling beverages created with adult palates, healthy lifestyles and calorie-conscious consumers in mind. In fact, these bubbly bottles come with an adjective for everybody: all-natural, caffeine-free, vegan, gluten-free, sodium-free, kosher, delicious... take your pick.
Sharelle Klaus, Dry Soda founder and CEO, began the company when she was pregnant and missing the added dimension a complementary glass of wine can bring to a good meal. Her products' flavors, such as lavender, lemongrass, rhubarb and cucumber (making its debut at NRA Show 2009), were created with food pairings in mind.
"We need to have a modern way to think about soda," Krauss said. Restaurants throughout the Northwest agreed, picking up the sodas first, followed by grocery stores and boutiques across the United States and Canada. DRY's elegant bottles were added to Starbucks stores throughout the Northwest last week. Klaus attributes the company's success to an increasing demand for a non-alcoholic beverage that can be consumed on its own, paired with food (DRY offers cards with pairing suggestions) or used as a premium mixer. "You have to be open to what the customers are needing. They were asking for it."
Klaus says the NRA Show was a no-brainer to debut some of her newest products: "[The NRA Show] was great for us last year." Judging by the crowd lining up for sips of the drink at Booth 1161W this morning, the public's thirst hasn't been quenched yet.
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