Dry January, Wet January, A Very Dark and Stormy January

Happy New Year!

Many people use January as time to reset, recharge and restart, I know because I have also dabbled in this in the past. I am always in awe of anyone who makes it through one week of hardcore cleansing and exercising, let alone the whole month. January is a tough month. We are all coming down from the various celebrations that occur in November and December; the bright and gaudy decs and lights are all disappearing; and although Winter Solstice left us with the promise of lighter evenings, Storm Goretti seems to have put a dampener, quite literally, on that.

The three Januarys just gone have been dry for me: a couple of IVF rounds followed by pregnancy ruled me out of even a slightly damp month so I lived vicariously through friends, family, Instagram posts and dabbled in some non alcoholic options (Guinness 0.0 and a non alcoholic twist on the classic Sidecar using lapsang souchong tea are still two options that I reach for). So this year, I have decided to enjoy the mantra that many bars are suggesting and am leaning into the "Try January". I don't necessarily mean I'm going to lean fully into the drinking side of this, but this cold, dark month is also known as International Creativity Month, a chance to try something new, maybe pick up a new hobby or skill. Ok, so I am tempted to try and learn how to flare which is very much drink related, but I think the "try" that I am going to be looking to attempt is to try to have more balance. Yes, I will enjoy a drink, or two - sod it, it's the weekend let's have a bottle! - but I'll also try some mindfulness, a bit of time exploring the outdoors, I'll attempt some recipes from Sift, and I'll continue being sucked into the incredible world of Peter Grant.

Tonight, however, I will be enjoying a drink. I've decided to embrace the weather and pour myself a Dark N Stormy with the rum that started it all: Gosling's Black Seal Rum. It is said that after WWII, British Naval Officers stationed in Bermuda were brewing up Ginger Beer to combat sea sickness. Someone suggested adding Gosling's to make it more palatable and when the two were swirled together a sailor said it looked "the colour of a cloud only a fool or a dead man would sail under", and that's how this iconic cocktail got it's name.

Cheers to you all!