Firstly, can I just say that here at Boatshed Essex we don’t advocate getting sozzled and taking your boat out to sea, to find out what the winter weather has in store for you. But a drink with friends on board in the marina, or down at the yacht club can be the perfect way to celebrate the festive season.

So whilst re-telling stories of this year’s cruises and plotting adventures for next year, what will you be drinking this Christmas?

Yo Ho...

Skipper Rum is a blend of dark rums from Guyana. It’s been around since 1930 and the blending is done in Holland. It’s distilled from sugar-cane and molasses and aged in oak casks before blending. According to Drinks Direct it tastes of caramel, treacle, vanilla and toffee.

Of course, the traditional Royal Navy drink was Grog, a blend of weak beer and rum concocted by the British Vice Admiral Edward Vernon in the 18th century. Vernon was nicknamed Old Grog due to the coat he wore made of grogram cloth. Modern versions of grog can include hot water, lemon juice, lime, cinnamon and sugar.

But what if your crew are not up for drinking rum? That reminds me of my favourite line in the musical ‘Oliver’ – a popular Christmas movie. Fagin says to the boys,

“Shut up and drink yer gin!”

My original hometown is Plymouth, and what could be more nautical than a bit of Plymouth Gin? The Black Friars Distillery on the Barbican in Plymouth is in a beautiful old building, once a Dominican Order monastery dating back to 1431. They’ve been making gin there since 1793. Not as dry as London gin and with a softened juniper flavour, it was a favourite of my dad’s. When he was home on leave from the Merchant Navy he might have a cheeky gin and tonic before Sunday lunch...

However, if you want to choose a gin that owes part of its heritage to Essex then stick to the UK’s most popular gin: Gordon’s. From 1984 to 1998 it was produced in Basildon, before production was moved to Scotland.

Local wine and beer

For Christmas drinks much closer to home you could support the Mersea Island vineyard and brewery. It is believed that the Romans once had vineyards on the Island. These days the vineyard offers a range of English white wines. There is even a sparkling wine, produced using the authentic ‘Methode Champagnoise’ secondary fermentation process.

The Island brewery produces a range of real ales from Oyster stout to Island Gold. The most nautically named brew is of course Skippers; a best bitter, which is dark amber in colour: Brewed with five different malts with a smooth bitterness from Fuggles hops.

So with the selection above you should be able to provide the perfect tipple to keep any friends and family happy if they join you for a drink this Christmas.

If you’re still looking for your ideal boat check out those we have that are reduced in price. If you’re considering selling your boat let us take care of that for you so that you can carry on with your preparations for Christmas!

Peggy

Image credit: Mersea Island Brewery

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