Steeltown – A Welsh Cocktail

Wales played a massive part in providing steel to the world, with one valley, in particular, becoming known as the ‘Valley of Steel’, aiding in the production of Iron Steel and Tin Mill products, with South Wales helping to produce 50% of the Iron used in Britain.

The history of this craft in Wales dates back to the Romans, with some sites unearthing the remains of Roman iron-smelting furnaces.

Due to the rich iron reserves in Wales, the population massively expanded, but during this time, conditions were rather poor, which sparked conflict and riots. During these times, safety wasn’t as regulated as it is today, the men would simply work in normal clothes, with no gloves or heat-protective clothing, with temperatures meeting 1,538°C, which is the melting point of Iron.

The men working to extract the iron from the ground and those turning it to steel, would work together and often spend their free time together, it was said they were bound by steel.

At the height of the industry, 40,000 Welsh people were working in the industry, and like in many similar industries, it would hit its peak worker compacity and then drastically decline, with many men losing their jobs and livelihoods, with some men dedicating 20 plus years of their lives to these Iron and Steel companies, to then be laid off, with the industry being unsustainable as its then projection.

They would transport the Iron and Steel by using the canals leading towards the docks, the biggest Steel towns in Wales, such as Newport or Talbot, would receive the melted down, raw Iron, where it would be turned into steel and then frequently transported to England.

The industry may not be what it once was, but to honour the decades dedicated to this industry by the many working men, which helped raise our Empire into the modern age, this Cocktail is for you.

The Welsh Sparkling Wine – Velfrey

This Welsh Winery started back in 2016, fairly new to the world of wine, especially in Wales, as the first Welsh Vineyards started popping back up around the 1960s, I say ‘back up’ because it’s believed that the first vines ever planted in Wales were by Suetonius Paulinus, a Roman governor at the time, in AD75 during the Roman occupation of Wales in the small town of Caerleon.

Velfrey Vineyard is planted on a south-facing slope of the Lampeter Vale in the south Pembrokeshire countryside, occupying 3 acres, and containing over 4,000 vines. They plant the following Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc & Solaris.

Velfrey – Cuvée Reserve 2019 – Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Lovely Christmas display of spices, with welcoming cinnamon and nutmeg powder, sprinkled on a fine layer of pastry, Danish pastry, with bruised apple and yellow fruits in the background on the aroma.”

Flavour – “Almost identical aroma to the palate, Christmas vibes with cinnamon and nutmeg, more pastry and a delicate touch of bruised apples, yellow fruits and gooseberry on the palate.”

Silver Medal in the Hint of Spice Category at the Glass of Bubbly Awards 2022

The Welsh Vodka – Steeltown

Created by the Spirit of Wales, being distilled in Newport, they capture the essence of Wales and its Celtic roots, along with their Welsh industrial heritage of steel production, coal mining, agriculture, and fishing traditions.

They opened in 2021 with the goal to craft complex and surprising flavours, that tell abstract stories on your palate, giving you a taste of Wales to treasure.

Steeltown Welsh Vodka – Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Soft and smooth black peppercorn, earthy characters and fresh citrus on the aroma.”

Flavour – “A touch of spicy black peppercorn, with delicate citrus, yeasty/bready notes, with an exciting finish.”

The Cocktail – Steeltown

Ingredients

• Welsh Sparkling Wine
• Welsh Vodka
• Welsh Thyme
• Welsh Ice

How To Make A Steeltown Cocktail

• Fill Your Glass With Welsh Ice
• Pour in 20mls of Welsh Vodka
• Top up with Welsh Sparkling Wine
• Then Garnish With Three Twigs of Welsh Thyme

Steeltown Cocktail Tasting Notes

Aroma – “A spicy aroma with sweet cinnamon to black peppercorn, with a subtle zestiness and a lovely freshly baked display of pastries on the aroma.”

Flavour – “The palate is very similar to the aroma, with some freshly picked ripe green fruits being added to the spicy characters of sweet cinnamon to black peppercorn, with a subtle zestiness and that lovely freshly baked pastry display on the palate.”

 

Image Credit: Sparks, Sledge Hammer, Welder