CCSI Cork Crowncap Database - Brewer/Bottler
   
Entered: 27 Oct 2006 01:46 - Bob Burr - Modified: 25 Nov 2023 12:39 - Jon Bailey
 Brewer/bottler #580
Name Budwine Bottling Co. (Athens, GA)
Address Use for all Budwine, Bludwine and 3 Centa crowns when the local bottler is unknown.
City Athens
State/Province Georgia
Country United States
Type Soft Drink Bottler
Website  
Extra info Bludwine originated in Watkinsville, GA around 1906. It was a fruit and grain based beverage intended as a temperance drink or alternative to alcohol. Early sales were phenomenal and the inventor decided to move to the metropolis of Athens, GA and promote his new beverage across the South.
Dozens of bottlers were bottling Bludwine by 1910, almost all in the distinctive hourglass-shaped bottle designed by the inventor and patented in 1918 and again in 1921. By the 1920's Bludwine was bottled as far west as Pasadena, CA and North to Canada.
In 1921, the company changed the name of the soft drink product from Bludwine to Budwine. At this time, the company announced that while the quality of the drink could not be further improved, the name was able to be improved. Federal food regulators required elimination of the name Bludwine in the early '20's and the beverage became Budwine. Budwine was bottled over a wide area for many years but eventually declined until recent years when the only bottler was Athens, GA. The company closed around 1995.

In 1894 Henry C. Anderson of Watkinsville, Georgia began developing a formula for a cherry flavored drink that was non-alcoholic. A German chemist living in Elberton, Georgia helped Anderson develop the formula. The cherry flavored drink was named Bludwine. The Bludwine Company started in Athens, Georgia in 1906.
The company incorpated in 1910. In 1916 Bludwine was distributed in 27 states. It claimed to outsell Coca-Cola. By 1917 the company was selling 1,000,000 bottles per day. Bludwine patented their hobbleskirt bottle design in 1918.
In 1913 the FDA charged that the name Bludwine was misleading, because it did not contain any wine. This suit was settled Federal Court in Athens, Georgia. The jury ruled in favor of Bludwine. The FDA came after Bludwine again in 1921 after losing it's original lawsuit. The FDA forced the name to be changed to Budwine because the FDA felt that the german word for blood used in the name misled people into thinking that the soft drink had a medicinal quality.
Mr. Joseph Costa purchased the company in 1929 and only the Athens and Augusta plants remained in business During the 1940's bottling operations were moved entirely to Athens. Bottles had "CITY BOTTLING CO" embossed on the bottom. The bottles also began having "GIMME" embossed on the side of the bottle. Eventually, the Athens plant was closed and the Athens Pepsi plant produced Budwine under an agreement. In 1969 the agreement was discontinued. After this, bottlers in Thomasville, Georgia and Macon, Georgia began producing Budwine. Budwine ceased production in the mid 1990's.

Mr. Costa of Athens, Georgia also produced the 3 Centa and 5 Centa drinks from 1934-42. These bottles also had "CITY BOTTLING CO" embossed on the bottom. 3 Centa also had bottling operations in Indiana, Noth Carolina and other Georgia cities. It was named because they sold their bottles for 3 cents when other sodas were selling for 5 cents.
  
Crowncaps All crowncaps from this brewer/bottler
  
Other names used for this Brewer/bottler
Name 1 City Bottling Co.
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Name 2 Budwine Company Inc.
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Name 3 3 Centa Bottling Co. (Athens, GA)
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Name 4 Bludwine Company
Extra info 1910-1921
Name 5 Classic City Bottling Co.
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Name 6  
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Name 7  
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Name 8  
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Name 9  
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