What is SKI?

SKI is a citrus soda. It is a product of the Double-Cola Company based in Chattanooga, TN. It is made with real fruit juice for a natural taste.

Invented in 1956, SKI has become the flagship brand of Double-Cola. At one time, SKI was bottled and distributed from the East Coast to Colorado, and from Wisconsin to Georgia, mostly in small town and rural areas. For example, even the defunct diner shown in the closing scene of the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" had a SKI advertisement on the front door. SKI even has an international presence in countries such as India, Syria, and Pakistan.

Unfortunately, many (most) small town bottlers and distributors have succumbed to the soft drink giants. (See the "links" page for an article about this David and Goliath(s) story). There are, fortunately, some remaining pockets of production and distribution of SKI that have survived due to devoted fans of a superior product. Check the reviews on BevNet.com (see the "links" page).

SKI is produced in 4 different varieties: regular, diet, cherry, and caffeine free. It is predominately packaged in cans and plastic bottles (10 oz, 20 oz, 2L).

All SKI is not created equal, however. In one of the remaining production sites, Excel Bottling Company in Breese, IL, SKI is still made with real cane sugar and packaged in glass bottles! It is available in 10 ounce non-returnable glass, and 12 ounce returnable glass. It is also available in post-mix and pre-mix packaging for commercial sales.

What SKI ISN'T

SKI isn't "just like Mountain Dew" any more than Coke is just like Pepsi. They are both citrus sodas, and the same color, but SKI has a more "natural" taste that is far superior to the manufactured taste of Mountain Dew.

SKI isn't a product of the Coca-Cola Company. There is some confusion because a few years ago, one of the largest remaining SKI/Double-Cola production facilities and distribution centers, Greensburg Bottling in Greensburg, Kentucky, was sold to Coca-Cola. Coke immediately closed the small production facility, but continues to distribute SKI in that region. Incidentally, it is this region of Kentucky that produced the country group Kentucky Headhunters, who made it big with the song Dumas Walker, which included a line about having a bottle of SKI at the local hamburger joint.

SKI isn't a cola or a lemon-lime drink. It contains the juice of oranges and lemons, but no lime.

Special Thanks To...

My wife, Cindy, for putting up with my obsession.

Gavin and Doug for putting together this website.

My friends at Excel Bottling...keep it coming!