Kentucky’s iconic soft drink, Ale-8-One, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a series of special events, commemorative merchandise and a sweepstakes, marking a century as one of the Commonwealth’s most recognizable homegrown brands.

As part of the celebration, Ale-8-One has launched its Centenni-Ale Sweepstakes, giving customers the opportunity to win one of 100 prizes in honor of the company’s 100th birthday. Customers who purchase Ale-8-One products can upload their receipt for a chance to win before the sweepstakes ends July 14. The prize lineup includes exclusive cabin stays at The Hideaways in the Red River Gorge, branded dorm refrigerators and limited-edition Ale-8-One merchandise created especially for the anniversary.

The celebration will continue on Aug. 1 with Ale-8-One Day, a community-wide birthday party in downtown Winchester from 5 to 9 p.m. The event will feature the unveiling of a Kentucky Historical Society marker recognizing the company’s century-long legacy, along with a downtown block party featuring live music, food trucks, family activities, Ale-8 ice cream floats, a special Ale-8 storefront and, of course, plenty of the iconic soft drink.

Ale-8-One traces its origins to founder G.L. Wainscott, who developed the beverage after sampling ginger drinks in Europe. The name came from a contest at the Clark County Fair, where the winning suggestion, “A Late One,” was adapted. Founded in 1926, it has remained family-owned since and is recognized as the nation’s oldest privately held soft drink bottler under continuous family ownership. It continues to be produced in Winchester using its closely guarded original recipe.