Yes, it’s been dark since quarter-past-three and it’s almost definitely chucking it down; but the kitchen disco is calling, and your sofa is the best seat in the house for that new season of your favourite TV series.
It might typically be a time of less - spending less, eating less, going out less, drinking less - but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any fun to be had. In fact, doing less might just provide the opportunity to appreciate what we have a little more - enjoy the simple moments that are so easily missed in the constant December dazzle.
We’ve gathered some free(ish) and easy ways that you can make any gloomy January evening feel a little bit special - even if you doze off on the sofa at 8.30pm.
Nature’s biggest light show
Forget all those ‘enchanted light trails’, the best light show of the new year is happening above our heads. 2025 is set to be one of the best for viewing the Northern Lights in the UK, and the long, dark January nights mean that it’s the perfect time to abandon the TV for a bit of Aurora spotting.
Pairing notes: The silky waves of the aurora meet the silky Espresso Martini; this coffee-based pick-me-up will keep you going if your aurora hunt goes on until way past your (earlier) January bedtime.
Snack attack
Going dry(ish) this January means making that one drink last, so it helps to have a perfectly paired snack to enjoy alongside it. Try the deep salt and umami of a charcuterie or cheese board with bitter cocktails like the Old Fashioned, or an exotic fruit platter to compliment the candied citrus of a Tommy’s Margarita.
If you want to delve deeper, our master mixologist, Patrick Pistolesi, has created a comprehensive guide to the perfect snack and cocktail pairings. Careful: some of them won’t be what you’d expect.
Delve deeper here.
Go Analog
Digital Detox retreats are set to be big in 2025, and with mounting evidence that being a slave to your phone isn’t such a good thing, it’s a wellness trend that's set to stick around. Good thing that there are loads of fun analog options out there, from at-home art kits to embracing ‘the golden age of board games’; an evening going analog might turn out to be more fun.
Pairing notes: Add a little sophistication to your games night with prohibition classics like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan, or style icons like the Cosmopolitan and Dry Martini.
Upgrade a night in front of the TV
If you’re drinking less this January, and even the options above feel like too much effort (we hear you), then you can still add a little something to (another) night on the sofa - and make that one drink count - with a bar-strength single-serve cocktails, mixed by world-renowned barman Patrick Pistolesi, and designed to be sipped slowly.
Our build-your-own cocktail boxes allow you to choose from a range of over thirty award-winning classics and new recipes, all expertly mixed by our master mixologist Patrick Pistolesi, and delivered to your door within 48 hours.