By Garland Pollard
Are there still Wink fans?
Wink was the grapefruit-based soft drink by Canada Dry. It had a grown up taste, and seemed to be only purchased by grandparents when children came to stay for the weekend. You see, in earlier but forgotten eras, children came down at 5 p.m. and sat with the older generation for something called cocktails. Children would drink these soft drinks such as Wink, and then leave and mess about until dinner time.
In this advertisement, Canada Dry is marketing it to the sassy generation.
Does anyone else miss Wink?
32 responses so far ↓
1 Howard // Sep 20, 2010 at 9:34 pm
I loved Wink. Growing up in NYC, we often had it in our house. Canada Dry had a couple of other drinks that I miss, one being “Tahitian Treat” (it can apparently be found in some parts of North America) and “Wild Cherry” (long gone, I think.)
2 John // Sep 20, 2010 at 11:37 pm
I miss Wink! I loved the entire Wink concept back in the late 1960s. The taste was a bit tart but as a kid I felt a little more “grown up” drinking it. The bottles, the labeling and the ad campaigns were very well done. If they brought it all back just as it was I’d be a customer but if they mess with all that and make it unrecognizable to it’s original label then I wouldn’t be interested. Gosh, with all the vintage interest for the 1960s these days due in part to the highly rated MadMen tv series, you’d think that iconic companies would capitalize on that and reinstate 60s products and their vintage labeling and packaging. It’s not impossible to do it.
3 Mia // Sep 26, 2010 at 7:45 pm
We used wink as a mixer for Jack Daniels!
Loved it!
4 Sandra Friend // Oct 20, 2010 at 5:58 pm
A visit to my aunt meant Wink as the adults did their thing. Loved it! Forgot all about it til I saw this.
5 Vivian L Adams // Oct 27, 2010 at 11:15 am
I hate to admit this, but when cleaning out a spare refrigerator in the basement, to be replaced by a new one, I discovered we had 2 bottles of the old Wink in the refrigerator. Is it still bottled? I believe I remember people using it with gin? I believe it was also a thirst quencher.
6 Cheryl Lee // Nov 7, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Please bring this back just as it was. It is something that would be very refreshing in todays market.
7 Evan Hammerman // Nov 9, 2010 at 11:01 pm
I loved Wink! Loved the unique grapefruity taste. Also loved their unique adversting: Wink! You like it! It likes you!
I also remember Tahitian Treat, and White Rock sodas.
8 Connie // Nov 11, 2010 at 6:52 pm
wE ALWAYS HAD WINK AND OUR HOUSE AND ALOT OF IT AT CHRISTMAS TIME CAN YOU STILL BUY IT ANY WHERE AND PLEASE LET ME NO WHERE I LIVE IN pA.
9 athena spillman // Nov 18, 2010 at 9:36 pm
i love drinking wink it was the best some people think zuench taste like it but it not even close would love to see it come back maybe then i wouldnt drink as mine pepsi and it would be better for you really would love to have some right now Please Bring It Back
10 Lisa W // Dec 19, 2010 at 12:09 pm
If you’re lucky enough to live near a Wegmans supermarket they have a store brand soda called “Wedge” that comes in various fruit flavors. The grapefruit version is as close to Wink as you’ll ever find. Another idea-a former coworker used to mix grapefruit juice into Sprite when he couldn’t find Wink.
11 jim // Dec 21, 2010 at 4:48 pm
I loved it when I was a kid through to when it disappeared. It and Tahiti Treat were my favourites, and in fact, my family won a watercraft called Ski Flee from Canada Dry in a Wink contest around 1968 or so.
Would be nice if both came back – I believe they were both decent sellers in their time.
12 Jay // Jan 18, 2011 at 10:00 pm
My stepfather’s father worked for Canada Dry and invented Wink….. how it got its name?
“Wink” was the family dash hound’s name.
13 Edie // Feb 27, 2011 at 2:07 pm
I want to know if you can still get it and where? We grew up drinking it and miss it a lot.
14 Tom // Apr 30, 2011 at 11:23 pm
I have not seen Wink for over 5 years. It used to be available Newmarket,Ontario, Canada. We moved and I never saw it again. This is a refreshing summer drink and is great mixer with Vodka. I know many people who would like to see it again.
15 Bert // Jun 11, 2011 at 8:53 pm
my Mom wants it to come back now
16 Elaine // Jun 13, 2011 at 11:59 am
WINK is the only pop I drink. I cannot drink anything with aspertame so I don’t drink pop anymore. I have been drinking cranberry juice since they quit making WINK. Please bring it back as my friends and I like WINK.
17 Jennifer // Jul 6, 2011 at 6:32 pm
If anyone is interested, my family was recently on vacation in Carolina Beach, NC and found Wink in the Food Lion grocery stores there. We bought every bottle they had. Then we went back before we left for home and bought every bottle again. Had not had it since I was little and it didn’t disappoint!
18 Frank // Aug 15, 2011 at 12:29 pm
I’m told that the current version of Wink is not the same as the original (surprise, surprise). The original had 5% real grapefruit juice. The new one has no grapefruit juice, but rather “citrus flavoring.” Plus the new is sickly sweet. The original was tart and tangy and thirst quenching. What a shame.
19 Sandra W // Sep 2, 2011 at 10:49 am
I loved Wink, grew up in Ontario and we drank it all the time, my parents always had it with Gin so when I was old enough it became my drink of choice, I miss it but I won’t pay to have it shipped from the U.S. especially if it doesn’t taste like the original! PLEASE bring the ORIGINAL back!
20 Suz B // Nov 16, 2011 at 3:56 pm
I have loved Wink all my life. Last I saw it was in a grocery in Dallas TX, probably over 10 yrs ago. I’m in Charleston SC now and I would love to see it back on the shelves for us to buy and enjoy again!
21 cal k // Nov 18, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Loved Wink I basically don’t drink soda since the 1980′s when it faded out of colo.
Pepsi came out with a close copy called Citrus Blast
earlier this year but it has already shown up missing from our supermarkets
Miss you Wink please come back
22 ShereeKrider // Dec 7, 2011 at 9:14 pm
I loved wink back in the 60′s it was available in Kentucky. Maybe early 70′s too. Why it disappeared I still don’t know. Bring it home to KENTUCKY!
23 ShereeKrider // Dec 7, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Where can I buy it at now??????
24 Ronnie // Jan 2, 2012 at 5:34 pm
I would love to have some Wink. We drank it in Viet Nam 70-71. come on Canada Dry bring it back!!!
25 Wild Bill // Jan 8, 2012 at 5:30 am
It made the greatest “Hurricane” with grenedine, rum, and a slice of orange. Where can I buy it?
26 Fred French // Jan 18, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Back in the early to late 1960′s my dad worked at Canada Dry in Franklin and Concord NH and We used to drink Wink, and Tahitian Treet and all of Canada Drys flavors! Their soda was The BEST!I remember the Logo “Wink,The Sassy One!” They had a promotiona blow up “Wink Gink” Doll with brightyellow hair, Very Funny looking. We had several of them. They also had “SPORT COLA” The first caffiene free cola. The had a promo delivery truck with a Sport Cola bottle on the roof. I have been looking for a Christmas Story in pamphlet form Called “The Mouse That Saved Christmas” I used to have copies of these quite some time ago but got lost due to a few moves. There was also Canada Dry Vodka and Gin and whiskey too. They had the best Grape , Rootbeer and Orange soda too! The main bottler in this area at the time was Waltham Mass.
27 Kathy // Jan 18, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Loved Wink and Gin..mmmmmm.
28 Sissy // Mar 8, 2012 at 8:12 pm
I have love Wink for years. Would love to know where to buy it.
29 marc // Mar 19, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Loved wink! Its time for the return of Wink!
30 Chris // Mar 24, 2012 at 5:11 pm
I too loved Wink and tahiti treat please bring them back I think Canada Dry is owned by Cadbury
31 digsandy // Mar 27, 2012 at 7:07 pm
I love, love, LOVE Wink! It is like Fresca (original flavor), only with sugar instead of sugar-free. It mixed wonderfully with cocktails, and reminds me of days gone by. I saw it about 7 or 8 years ago, and hope it’s still around. Look for it in small country stores or convenience stores in the middle of nowhere.
32 Sam // Apr 17, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Loved Wink for years and then it disappeared as a regular in Gastonia NC.
Recently tried Squirt in CO, also a Dr. pepper /snapple brand, and it was ok, even caffeine free. It too is not in NC.
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