Christmas Good Cheer

Be of good cheer.

Photo ©Anne-Marie Minhall

Be it a glass of mulled wine or cider, maybe an eggnog or a hot toddy, there are certain drinks we like to turn to at this time of year.

The pewter goblets were always liberated for the Christmas table at home when I was growing up. I was allowed a small splash of wine heavily diluted with lemonade. My father was partial to a drop of an Irish Whiskey on Christmas Eve after Midnight Mass - all the driving duties having been done & dusted.

In my teenage years, Nanna Bridie would provide my introduction to the festive Snowball. It was glorious. That mix of the smooth & creamy Advocaat and the fizzy pop was wonderful. If there was a maraschino cherry skewered onto a cocktail stick - all the better. It felt so sophisticated.

A couple of weeks ago at my local hostelry, I had a glass of spiced mulled wine as I awaited the arrival of a friend from down the road. I noticed that the barman had a cardboard sign hanging around his neck which read:

"I have lost my voice, sorry .."

ME: "Oh dear, are you not very well?" ..

BARMAN: (Sotto Voce) "No, I was up at the Emirates watching the Arsenal yesterday!" ..

ME: "Ah - good man - I’m a Gooner girl!” ..

My pal turned up & I offered to get her a warming glass of the seasonal tincture:

FRIEND: "Absolutely not, I don't do mulled wine, but thank you. Shall we get some fizz?" ..

I didn't need to be asked twice.

An English one as it turned out - Ridgeview Brut NV.

I have parked the mulled wine for the rest of the season.

AMM