What is more evocative on a cold, crispy night than gathering around a storyteller with a warming cocktail to hand?
Beware the Knucker
Slake Spirits is an independent artisan gin distillery based in Worthing, West Sussex. Their distinctive branding and their gins are inspired by the landscape and folklore of Sussex. In particular, Slake is an insatiable Knucker – an infamous water serpent, said to be found across Sussex, residing in Knuckerholes & devouring unsuspecting sheep and farmhands! Head dragon, distiller and forager at Slake Spirits is Dr. Thomas Martin-Wells, AKA (in my world at least) Dr. Gin.
His particular Knuckerhole is the Chalk House, a cosy distillery and tasting room tucked away in Worthing. And it was here, that I stumbled across a small gathering of folk leaning in to hear more from a Sussex storyteller.
Dawn Nelson was the storyteller extraordinaire and this was an evening of Yuletide Folktales with a cocktail tasting menu. It was time to pull up a chair.
Dawn weaved tales of Knuckers, and dragons, and of Hobs, and Elves as she took us from Sussex to Slovakia and Scandanavia and back again through the ages. Dawn is a professional storyteller who specialises in connecting people with nature, history and the landscape that surrounds them. We listened closely to learn more about how a Sussex Pond Pudding saved a village from the winter dragon!
While Dawn threaded tales through the evening and the frost took hold of the world outside, Dr Gin worked his own kind of magic with his Yuletide cocktails. First, we relaxed with his very own Sussex Dry Gin with rosemary and orange. Then we supped on Cosmos cocktails made with a festive mix of Hedgerow Gin, cranberry juice, Slake’s unique Bacchus Wild Elixir, and lime. Then, much like the Knucker, we slithered on to a pink gin made with elderflower. All in the name of good health, of course!
The night was still young, as sharing platters were duly shared. And our cockles were nicely warmed before we eventually headed out into the frosty night once more, heads filled with mystical beasts and bellies filled with good cheer.
If you like this post about Slake Spirits in Worthing, you’ll be delighted to know that they offer several tours and tasting experiences. You may also like:
