Wishniak is a black cherry soda that is named after real wishniak, which is actually an Eastern European vodka-based black cherry liqueur. (If you like reading about liquor, check out my other site here.) Legend has it that this genre of soda was conceived and named in the Eastern European disaporae of Philadelphia. A brand called Frank's was probably the original version, and it call still be bought today.
Some of the larger soft drink companies have issued their own versions of Wishniak, and Canada Dry is among them, which denotes it as a limited availablity(specifically, probably regional) varietal.
Full disclosure: I'm not a big fan of black cherry flavored foods. I find that I prefer sweeter cherry flavors like found in Coca-Cola Cherry or Cheerwine.
The flavor of this stuff is pretty good. It's a tad more bitter and sour than more traditional cherry sodas, but it maintains a sweetness that keeps it more on the crowd-pleaser side. This may be a bit tame for true black cherry enthusiasts. The flavor is indeed "dark" with a character that will remind you of other dark berries, such as raspberry or grape. There's also a bit of black pepper that bites you near the end. On the swallow, this soda manages to leave a short crisp finish with almost no aftertaste.
Canada Dry Black Cherry Wishniak:
(Good)Acquired: privately-owned convenience store
Just had my first taste of Canada Dry's Black Cherry Wishniak, and found it exceptionally pleasing. There's no cloying sweetness, and reminds me more of a sweet cordial than a soda
ReplyDeleteGrew up drinking Frank's, oh what memories. Recently found Canada Dry Wishniak at a corner store at 3 & Race in Philadelphia. I stopped a Canada Dry guy in a Shop-Rite in the northeast, he directed me to ACME stores. There I found it and at much lower price than a corner store. It takes me back.
ReplyDeleteTried it for the first time ever on Thanksgiving Day. Pretty good stuff! I think my family and I enoyed the name more than the taste. "....... Wishniak " became our word of the day!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf looking. for a bottle.found it at xit 100 I 81 PA little gas station south of pilot.
ReplyDeleteYes I remember the Franks from 60 years ago,going to pick-nicks and going to all the buckets of ice water, looking for the Frank's Black Cherry Wishniak.
ReplyDeleteFranks ot Canada Dry.....give Black Cherry Wishniak a try! Chilled or on ice, have it once or twice.!
ReplyDeleteVery good! I found it at our local Dash-In here in Southern Maryland. Hope it stays around for a while.
ReplyDeleteBeth, you might be in luck! I've begun seeing Wishniak around more and more stores.
ReplyDeleteI found it at the gas station at Greenway plaza in Greenbelt, MD. Yum.
ReplyDeleteI personally will never buy this soda again. I just found out the word wishniak is a racist word. Use to be used for nigga. Yea I wish I would spend another dollar on this soda not. It has been enough racism in the world. I'm appalled.
ReplyDeleteAre you fucking serious? More like there has been enough race cards pulled in this world. Now shut the fuck up and live your life like a responsible person instead of a whiner.
DeleteWishniak is a Polish word for cherry. If it was used to talk about one race of people or another, it was used by idiots. Don't waste your time getting drug into that line of thought. Enjoy the soda.
DeleteNever heard that. Some Polish terms for dark-complected gentlemen are murzyn [dirty], czarnuch, charney, asfalt [asphalt LOL], smoluch, or bambus.
DeleteNow chuj ci w dupę!
It is not the polish word for Cherry, its Ukrainian meaning black cherry,
DeleteHA ha ha racist soda come on fool
ReplyDeleteRacist word? Words aren't racist. Only people can be racist. You can choose to see a racist connotation in any word. You can also choose to ignore it.
ReplyDeleteWord!
DeleteWord!
DeleteVery mature and educated response. Bravo!
DeleteI found this at Acme in Philly...I bought all they had, cannot get it here in Ohio. Wrote to Canada Dry...hope I can start getting it here.
ReplyDeleteI get it at Weiss store in Havre de Grace, Md
ReplyDeleteA few Wawa's around Baltimore have it. It tastes closer to real cherries than the typical red artificial flavor we call cherry. Unlike cherry Coke, it has no cola taste. However, it does have a ginger ale bite.
ReplyDeleteGrew up drinking Frank's BCW. Try it with vanilla ice cream (Breyers) to make a delicious "float" or in place of milk on granola cereal.
ReplyDeleteGrew up drinking Frank's BCW. Try it with real vanilla ice cream to take a delicious "float" or in place of milk on granola cereal.
ReplyDeleteHere in Portland,Oregon I discovered Canada Dry Wishniak at the Plaid Pantry mini marts..I cannot find it anywhere else......This is a really great Black cherry tasting soda........I hope they continue to carry it...Thumbs up from me......
ReplyDeleteI bought some today at Grocery Outlet on Hall Blvd. In Beaverton, i think for 1.09 a liter bottle
DeleteIt's at Safeway now too.
DeleteFound this at WiCo in Greshem,Or really good.
ReplyDeleteOriginally from Wilmington, Delaware and Philly. Grew up on Frank's BCW (and Frank's Creme Soda, too!) over 50 years ago. Found Canada Dry's BCW just yesterday in a Safeway store in Reedsport, Oregon just yesterday. Bought two bottles and LOVE the taste. Great memories. Keep it coming Canada Dry and Safeway!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff. Got it at Safeway in Des Moines Wa.
ReplyDeleteHappened across this item at a HyVee in St. Joseph, MO. It's great, even in chilly weather! Might have to find out the distributor they go through to buy in bulk. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteFrom Salisbury, MD. Love this drink. Never knew what wishniak was so I looked it up. Great cherry taste. They sell it at wawa
ReplyDeleteJust bought some for the first time at Fred Meyers in Hillsboro Oregon.
ReplyDeleteLove that Black Cherry Wisniak ! I just found small bottles at a Sunoco in Reading PA !
ReplyDeleteLove it . The vanilla outstanding too .
I can imagine how good they would be with vanilla ice cream \ float .
Please Canada Dry produce this soda big time !
It's the very best .
As for the name ! Keep it please .People are tired of the Orwellian Political Correctness !
Love that Black Cherry Wisniak ! I just found small bottles at a Sunoco in Reading PA !
ReplyDeleteLove it . The vanilla outstanding too .
I can imagine how good they would be with vanilla ice cream \ float .
Please Canada Dry produce this soda big time !
It's the very best .
As for the name ! Keep it please .People are tired of the Orwellian Political Correctness !
Love this soda im additicted to its flavor this is the best black cherry flavored soda ive ever had. Sucks i can only get it at rutters in waynesboro,pa.
ReplyDeleteFound this in 20 oz. bottles at the wawa in Woodbridge VA on miniville rd . Best black cherry I have had in years , too bad it's a struggle to find it
ReplyDeleteI loved this stuff. It remindsmevof the black cherry soda that Beckers used to sell back in the eighties. I wouldn't drink it all the time, but I will certainly enjoy it while it's available
ReplyDeleteGiant food stores here in Maryland have it under their name. It's very reasonably priced and the taste is unbelievably awesome! Been drinking it since I was a kid and it never gets old. My favorite soda by far. Dr Pepper comes close so if there's no black cherry I have to settle for Dr. Pepper. I've not yet seen Canada Drys version. If I do I'll be sure to try it.
ReplyDeleteReally good black cherry soda taste alot like scwepps cherry ginger ale good soda too much sugar like most sodas
ReplyDeletewow jut had this it is really good. We had A-treat in our area the lehigh valley, slate Belt area north of Philly
ReplyDeleteThanks and that i have a swell give: How Long Do House Renovations Take average cost to remodel a house
ReplyDelete