Wettish January

Winter warmers with no after effects

We hope you had a lovely Christmas / other winter-related festival / holiday / time off from staring at a computer screen just to stare at a different kind of screen [delete as appropriate].

It’s been a chilly start to 2026 at B&B HQ. And we have been really busy preparing for the wassail. Which is tomorrow(!) and it’s sold out - sorry if you missed it this time. 

Hope you’re keeping cosy wherever you are. Smooth segue - why not warm up by wrapping your frozen fingers around a nice warm mug of mulled apple juice? We’ve got mulling kits for that. 

We say mulled apple juice not cider because for just this one time only we’re sending an email that’s 100% alcohol free*. In honour of the abstainers. Odd for a cider brand perhaps but we know (better than most - groannnn) you might be feeling the consequences of last month’s excesses.  

While we’d never preach puritan ways, we do enjoy exercising a little self-restraint in January when it comes to drinking. For the first few weeks, at least. Until r the Wassail where we ward off evil spirits by sloshing cider around the orchard. It’s nice to go without for a bit before we have our big winter party. 

*Okay so technically the mulling kit actually includes a bottle of cider, but you can use it for a DIY Wassail-related tree root soaking if you’re staying off the sauce for a bit.

Anyway, back to Dry January. Or should we say “Somewhat Damp January” or “Slightly Moist January”, given we aren’t swearing off booze for the whole month? 

We’ve got a sober serving suggestion for you. Try “Pipsqueak”, our non-alcoholic mocktaily refresher. It’s easy peasy apple squeezy to make - you just mix 3 parts apple juice with 1 part Shrub non-alcoholic aperitivo.

You should try it out coz…

1) it’s non-alcoholic
2) it’s good for ya*
3) Shrub and apple juice taste great together, especially with ice and a dash of fizz(...y water)
4) it’s basically a cocktail and really sophistimacated with all the bitters and hedgerow herb’s herbaceous flavours
5) you’ll never go back to alcohol**
6) they’re on offer because we support your marginally healthier lifestyle choices - get both for £25, saving you £3. 

*possibly
**possibly

Shrub is a traditional drink based on our raw apple cider vinegar. It’s like a fruit cordial but for the most grown-uppest grownups you could possibly imagine. Seriously senior humans. Proper mature adults who make their own sourdough, do crosswords, and talk about interest rates. 

Here’s how we brew it. 

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is what happens when we leave vintage cider to naturally re-ferment. All the alcohol turns into acetic acid, so you’d still be safe to drive after six pints of vinegar. It’d probably get you on a “stupidest deaths” or “idiots in A&E” list though. Because we’re pretty sure drinking that much vinegar can’t be good for you.*** Consider that our legal disclaimer, please.

*** it really isn’t

Anyway to make Shrub, we then matured the ACV for a further eight (yes, EIGHT) years before infusing the potion with hedgerow bitters and botanicals (think blackcurrants, fennel, rosemary, bay) and a hint of lemon. So it's kind of a bit special...

If a Pipsqueak sounds too sweet, you can mix Shrub with sparkling water and ice (around 1:7 ratio - or to your taste) for a sophisticated, refreshing, revitalising grownup experience. It’s also great in cocktails and amazing in salad dressings.

But please, remember. Shrub is for vintage palates only ;)

Cheers!

BN&B