SEATTLE, Jan. 12 A woman from Tacoma, Wash., has become a beverage entrepreneur after being dissatisfied with non-alcoholic drink options.Sharelle Klaus, 37, started making her gourmet beverage Dry Soda in her kitchen in 2005. She tried thousands of flavor combinations before settling on four varieties: rhubarb, kumquat, lemon grass and lavender. Her 11-employee company now resides in a 2,800 square-foot headquarters in Seattle with its bottling operation in Los Angeles, the Seattle Times reported Friday.The soda's name was chosen, Klaus says, because dry means less sweet to wine drinkers. Some of Seattle ' s priciest restaurants now stock the soda and some top chefs are using it in their dishes. Grocery giant Whole Foods carries Dry Soda in 28 stores in and around Seattle, the Times said. I wanted people who weren't drinking to feel special and important, too, Klaus told the newspaper. When someone opens you a Coke, it's not that special.Dry Soda retails for $1.99 per bottle, $6.99 for a four-pack and $20 for a 12-pack.Copyright 2007 by UPI
