Welcome, friends, to the final Black Lodge journal entry of the year, and what a year it has been.
Black Lodge Potions are now available in more places than ever, our gins have won another prestigious award, and we’ve managed to break our shackles on more than one occasion (despite The Master’s best efforts) to meet you in person at events up and down the country. For all that and more, we are truly grateful.
So, without further ado, let’s dip our raven quill into the inkwell and jot down our monthly musings.
Christmas gin orders
The festive season is now in full swing, and the Black Lodge’s own little helpers are hard at work shipping out your favourite flavoured gin. We say helpers, but imps really cause more work than they actually get through. Between eating the sellotape and wrapping each other up and mailing themselves out, it’s a wonder we get anything through the door at all. Just on that note, your final day to get your favourite tipple from us will be December the 17th. If you place an order after that date, it’ll either arrive after Christmas or Santa might decide to keep it for himself, so get your order in in plenty of time. You have been warned!
Festive drinking traditions from around the world
Mulled wine might be considered ‘Christmas in a cup’ these days, but we’re old enough to remember when Greek physician Hippocrates used to carry it around in his medicine bag as a remedy over 2,000 years ago.
Surprised by that? You might also be surprised to learn that there are many different drinking traditions linked to Christmas from around the world, and not many of them involve eggnog. Here are a few of our favourites:
Feuerzangenbowle – Germany
Feuerzangenbowle translates as ‘fire tongs’ in German. Wine and spices are warmed up in a punch bowl – so far, so mulled wine – but then a 9oz brick of sugar that has been soaked in rum is placed on metal tongs over the bowl and set on fire. The sugar slowly caramelises and drips into the punch, giving it a sweeter taste (and an added alcoholic kick).
Hot Buttered Rum – America
Butter, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and a pinch of salt are all beaten together and then chilled for up to two weeks. To make the drink, simply put two heaped tablespoons of the mix and 1.5 ounces of rum into a mug and pour boiling water over it. Stir, and enjoy.
Sorrel – The Caribbean
Made by boiling ginger, cinnamon berries, orange peel, and the fruit of the hibiscus flower together and then leaving it to soak for a day or two. Once it’s ready, rum, wine, and sugar are added to make a deliciously refreshing seasonal tipple.
Honourable mentions: Five boozy Christmas drinks that you need to try this holiday season
Irish Coffee, Ireland
Aliñado, Cuba
Bombardino, Italy
Wassail, United Kingdom
Cafe Mexicano, Mexico
How will you be treating Santa this year?
It’s a long-standing tradition that the children of the world leave Santa a little drinkypoo on Christmas Eve to thank him for delivering all those gifts, but depending upon where he is in the world, Santa’s alcohol intake varies drastically.
In Ireland, a pint of Guinness is left out, whereas, over the pond in England, Saint Nick is often greeted with a stiff brandy or sherry. That’s in sharp contrast to the Italians, who will leave a glass of wine, and the Aussies leave Santy a beer to cool him down from the summer heat Down Under!
We’ve heard on the grapevine that, although milk and cookies are very nice, Kris Kringle also likes flavoured gin and berries, so if we can help you show your appreciation to The Big Man, just let us know.
The 12 Slays of Christmas
Before we consign 2023 to the history books, we thought we’d have some fun telling you the story of Christmas. Don’t worry, there’ll be no saccharin sweet, brightly-coloured, cheery tales here – no sir! For 12 days leading up to the Big Day, we’ll be sharing a dark Christmas tradition from around the globe, giving out some delightful Black Lodge Potions discounts, and offering a recommendation for an ‘alternative’ Christmas movie to watch with your gin of choice. Sign up to our newsletter to be sure you don’t miss out on this eerie entertainment and those gratuitously gorgeous gin deals.
Farewell, 2023
Well, with all that being said, all that remains is for us to thank you from the bottom of our filthy, blackened hearts for reading our journals, for continuing to support an independent business that dares to do things a little differently, and for not calling the police on us that time Max the Werewolf had too much sugar and destroyed your front porch.
There’s plenty more to come from these hallowed pages in 2024, so until we meet again, have fun, please drink responsibly, be safe, and have a Merry Christmas.
Brother G, Brother T, and all the spooks and spirits of The Black Lodge.
