FOOD AND DRINK
BY JULIE BURNISTON
Seventh
Steel River Drinks expanding with new premises , more staff , new gins and mixers
T here ’ s no stopping Steel River Drinks , the leading Teesside artisan beverage brand , as they announce new premises , new staff and a new gin , Cherry Bomb – their seventh edition in just three years .
With owner Jay Byers bursting with innovative ideas , Steel River Drinks has expanded its staff to eight and opened a second 2,800-sq ft site at Lustrum Park , Portrack Lane , in Stockton .
“ We now have two units – one for distilling and brewing and the other for our first shop and our picking , packing and delivery functions ,” explained Middlesbrough-born Jay . There ’ s also that delicious new gin … “ Cherry Bomb is a cherry and vanilla dry gin , which I was inspired to make by a trip to Spain in 2020 ,” he said .
“ One evening I sat on a terrace in Cáceres in the Extremadura region and asked the barman to bring me a local gin . He brought me an amazing tipple made with cherries from nearby orchards which blew me away . I was determined to make my own version .”
Cherry Bomb has swiftly become a bestseller .
“ It ’ s versatile and pairs well with tonic and with lemonade , but customers are also drinking it with Coca Cola ,” said Jay .
Hot on the heels of Cherry Bomb is Strive , Steel River ’ s very own range of mixers .
“ If you look at the word Strive , you will see how we came to the name ,” explained Jay . “ The ST from Steel and RIVE from River .
“ Steel River gins are colourful and big
Let the drinking be-gin - Steel River Drinks ’ new Cherry Bomb gin .
heaven !
tasting , and although there are lots of good tonics out there , many are infused with various fruits and botanicals which can throw out the overall taste of our gins if added to them . Creating our own range of mixers ensures that the gin isn ’ t overpowered .”
The first Strive tonics are available in classic and light , with a citrus version to follow . There ’ s also a lemonade that compliments the bold flavours of the gins .
Strive mixers add to Steel River ’ s canned drinks range , with their G & T in cans launched recently .
“ It gives me such a buzz to see people drinking these cans on trains heading to York or Newcastle , so I have been blown away that train company LNER has shown an interest in stocking them on the route ,” said Jay .
Though immensely proud of the Tees region and with his gins and Strive mixers now in more than 130 hospitality venues here , Jay admits to being excited that Steel River Drinks is extending far beyond its roots .
“ It gives me goosebumps when I see orders coming in online for our gins , from all over the country and from Teesside expats across the world ,” he said .
“ That ’ s the beauty of Teessiders , they properly get about ! The emails and messages I get really hit home just how far we ’ ve come as a brand when people say they would love a bottle of our gin to remind them of their beloved Teesside .”
Though Steel River ’ s initial marketing was simply word of mouth , Jay believes that now is the time to step up and become proactive .
“ I always aim to put Teesside on the
On the market - Strive tonics are now available .
map , so It felt like the right time to take on some sales staff to facilitate this next stage of our growth ,” he said .
“ I was a bit concerned that some venues would look at a Teesside brand and say , ‘ I ' m not having that ’, but that ’ s not been the case .
“ Gin is such a wonderful drink that it crosses all gender , cultural , and class divides and I ’ m over the moon to see that Steel River gins and Strive mixers are already in bars and shops in Skegness , Leeds , Otley , Ripon , Whitley Bay and Newcastle .
“ Like I said , Teessiders get about – and now so are Steel River Drinks !”
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