Diesel Cola
Originally conceived during the aether rush of the 1890s, Diesel Cola was designed as a mixer for beer or liquor. Created in Reutlingen by a pharmacist named Barnabas Diesel, it soon gained popularity outside of its local area. In 1899, the recipe was purchased from him by Czech businessman Kazimír Suchý for a sum of 621 Imperial Krone. Suchý owned a small corporation that bottled and sold mineral water, and he had found a particular niche for consumption on aetherships and in lounges on the Jump Gates. In keeping with this angle, he hoped to branch into soft drink production as competition with growing companies in North America. He ordered the new Diesel Cola to be packaged in a new, aerodynamic looking bottle, to complement the futuristic locales that it would be served in. The product was highly successful in this regard, primarily thanks to new bottling technology that allowed it to stay carbonated for longer, and thus travel more easily.
Aside from its success in the aether, the drink grew throughout the northern half of the empire for its original purpose, and also slowly gained popularity as a refreshment in its own right. Due to a series of scandals and lawsuits, Suchý was removed from control of the company, and the new board felt that a cleaner, less adult oriented path forward was needed. In 1908 the decision was made to move away from the alcoholic angle, and focus more towards the standard consumer market. The company began a broad ranging advertisement campaign focusing on the diversity of the empire. This meant, in many cases, hiring local artists to paint extravagant murals depicting their people, and also including bottles of Diesel Cola in them.
By 1920 the cola had reached incredible heights of popularity, with it being seen as one of the symbols of Imperial popular culture. This popularity has provoked an amount of backlash from the aristocracy, who see the drink as a vice of the under classes. This popularity waned somewhat during the years of the Great Famine, as from 1924-1926 production was stopped as part of a rationing program. However in the years since the drink has bounced back, reaching new heights.
In flavor, Diesel Cola is usually described as tasting of black currant, vanilla, cinnamon, and citrus. It is typically packaged in a glass bottle with plum and yellow labeling.
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