Steelworks - yet another drink like screw driver, that didn't come from elite hotels or hip bars
What is the purpose of a muddler, and when should I use it?
MOREA muddler is used to crush and extract flavors from ingredients like herbs, fruits, or sugar. Use it when making cocktails that require muddled ingredients, such as mojitos or Old Fashioneds.
The steel factory workers
In this world of cocktails, where almost every story begins at clubs, bars and glamorous hotels, where legendary barmen and mixologists work their magic with alcohol, enchanting patrons with their impeccable cocktails, and tales of royalties and distinguished patrons spilling their lips, drifting away in an indulgent hush, with the lilting music from the ballroom, there are stories of working men and women, steelworkers and soldiers, of sailors and oil rig men and their drinks too. The Steelworks, as the name suggests belong to the steelworkers of Cape town.
Cape Town
Cape Town's steel workers first made this thirst-quenching drink by mixing cola tonic with ginger beer and bitters. It was just what they needed after a hot day in an oven-like environment.
The exact recipe and ingredients varied from factory to factory, but the basic mix is cola tonic, ginger beer and bitters. The popularity of the drink surged during World War II, when an influx of enlisted men mingled and shared recipes with the steelworkers. The end result was a drink that was sweet with a hint of spice, providing a much-needed respite from the long workdays in a hazardous and often grueling environment.
Early steelworks drink was an alternative to European whisky, beer and cola drinks
Back in the late 1800s. when the steel foundries of Capetown were booming, the workers needed an alternative, a non-alcoholic alternative to traditional coolers like whisky, beer and cola cocktails, that were popular at that time. Out of this search for a cooler for the workers came the Cola Tonic, Ginger Beer and Bitters recipe that was evidently far more refreshing and cooling that the traditional stronger coolers. The drink quickly gained in popularity and spread from Capetown to the rest of Africa.
The peak of popularity was during World War II and then during the 1960s
The Steelworks came out of the Steel industry after the World War II and was at it's peak in the 1960s. Why and who brought this low alcohol, sweet and refreshing drink out of the Steel Foundry's and into mainstream bars and pubs is unknown to us, but, every bar and pub in and around Capetown was serving it.
Maybe, simply because it's entire composition fitted perfectly to the heat and dust of Capetown's summer, maybe the low alcohol refreshing drink was something that could be had without the effects of alcohol and hence gained it's popularity as an all day drink. Whatever the reason was, it was popular and even today, references in literature in popular culture is abundant.
Detective Kubu and his Steelworks
The Steelworks Cocktail has also appeared in South African novelist Michael Stanley's Botswana-set detective Kubu mystery series. The main character, Kubu, orders a Steelworks in a pub in the first book of the series, A Carrion Death. The drink is characterised as chilly and refreshing, making it ideal for a hot Botswana day. The Steelworks even receives its own chapter in the book, a testament to the drink's distinct flavour and significance in South African society.
"Thank you. Please could you arrange to have two large steelworks sent to the tent, with ginger beer, not ginger ale, and extra ice in a bucket? I am going to have a quick shower before lunch. What time is lunch, by the way?" is what Assistant Superintendent of Police David Bengu, known as Kubu to this friends, says in the book.
The Steelworks is a refreshing way for him to unwind from the strains of his profession and take his mind off the case. It gives him a break and a chance to unwind that he wouldn't ordinarily receive from his job.
The rising popularity of Steelworks in recent years
Non-alcoholic beverages are enjoying the limelight right now, a huge surge in interest in non-alcoholic beverages has been noted, it seems like the entire world has woken up to alcohol abuse all at once and is trending these non-alco cocktails more and more each day. Whether it's the wish to live a healthier life or simply being part of a trend, or just craving for an excellent flavourful drink, the trend is not dying down soon.
Trending Recipes
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About Us
Neel B and Mani, we are a team of two, from Calcutta, India. We are professional software engineers and passionate cocktail enthusiasts. We built this app because we saw a need for a more comprehensive and user-friendly way to find cocktails and bartending recipes. We hope you enjoy using our app as much as we enjoyed making it!We decided to use our technology skills to help others who were in the same position as us and wanted to experiment with making cocktails at home but didn\u2019t know where to start. We have been working together for more than two years and has managed to collect an extensive library of recipes as well as tips and tricks for making the perfect cocktail.
Neel B is an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineer and martial arts and fitness enthusiast. He is an avid reader, compulsive doodler, and painter. His love for cocktails arises from the art in it and the history that traces the ups and downs of modern civilisation over centuries.
Maniis an ERP and SaaS developer and architect by day and a cocktail enthusiast in her leisure. She holds a Masters in Computer Application and Programming. In addition to writing stories on the history of cocktails and alcohol, she has a special interest in cocktails in literature. She believes that the perfect cocktail can make any moment special.