Sundowner...

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

...a hotel where there is no room service after midnight.

Growing up, a "sundowner" was usually a Gin and Indian Tonic during the summer, and a whisky in the winter. Ladies, quite often, would have a chilled sherry if they didn't care for the taste of gin or whisky. These drinks were usually served around 5PM.

As I seem to recall, proper "mixed drinks" were served, along with chilled champagne, at about 7:30, just before we went in for dinner.

[BoldHighlander]

...a hotel where there is no room service after midnight.

You guys (the two Scott's) crack me up! :mrgreen:

Growing up, a "sundowner" was usually a Gin and Indian Tonic during the summer, and a whisky in the winter. Ladies, quite often, would have a chilled sherry if they didn't care for the taste of gin or whisky. These drinks were usually served around 5PM.

As I seem to recall, proper "mixed drinks" were served, along with chilled champagne, at about 7:30, just before we went in for dinner.

Thanks Scott! I was hoping to coax a response from you on the subject.

[Jock Scot]

...a hotel where there is no room service after midnight.

Growing up, a "sundowner" was usually a Gin and Indian Tonic during the summer, and a whisky in the winter. Ladies, quite often, would have a chilled sherry if they didn't care for the taste of gin or whisky. These drinks were usually served around 5PM.

As I seem to recall, proper "mixed drinks" were served, along with chilled champagne, at about 7:30, just before we went in for dinner.

That is how I remember it too, although my father being a Royal Navy man preferred a pink gin and my mother was very partial to a "gimlet"(gin and Roses lime juice).

[Andy Proffitt]

If you read Capstick's Maneaters (in the lion section), it could be darn near anything. In differing contexts, it has seemed either to be gin drinks, or whiskies. Everything is better at sundown.

[BoldHighlander]

If you read Capstick's Maneaters (in the lion section), it could be darn near anything.

I'm just starting Capstick's "Death in the Long Grass" this evening...

In differing contexts, it has seemed either to be gin drinks, or whiskies. Everything is better at sundown.

Indeed!

[Mike_Oettle]

Basically a sundowner is whatever you prefer to have as the sun hits the horizon.
When I was in the army, and especially when I was on active duty, that was a (small) bottle of beer. (My regiment had a beer ration; during my initial training we were not permitted alcohol.)
Beer time in Owambo was an especially enjoyable aspect of my service there, since we also enjoyed snacks (courtesy of our better halves, who posted them to us from home).
In my parents’ home it was often sherry, port, muscadel (a deliciously sweet fortified wine) or jeripigo (similar).
Regards,
Mike

[Lallans]

Is it Cliff Clavin time again already? Oh well.

As far as Africa and the tropics go... before 1940 or so, quinine was the only effective treatment against malaria and became a traditional mixer in Sundowners as I understand them (quinine was used to make tonic water and inparts the 'interesting' original taste). Of course quinine, when consumed in large quantities, supposedly makes one quite deaf as the years go by.

What?

[Jock Scot]

Speak up laddie, don't mumble, speak up!

[Old Hippie]

Speak up laddie, don't mumble, speak up!

Which would explain the classic muddle that turns "Send reinforcements. We are going to advance" into "Send three-and-fourpence. We are going to a dance."

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

Is it Cliff Clavin time again already? Oh well.

As far as Africa and the tropics go... before 1940 or so, quinine was the only effective treatment against malaria and became a traditional mixer in Sundowners as I understand them (quinine was used to make tonic water and inparts the 'interesting' original taste). Of course quinine, when consumed in large quantities, supposedly makes one quite deaf as the years go by.

What?

I was in Niger in the sixties and had a kerosene refrigerator which could make six ice cubes in 24 hours. Just enough for two gin and tonics! (I can taste the quinine now.) When I forgot to put water in the ice trays one day, I was forced to drink my sundowners HOT. That oversight led to my Third Law of Life: "Always Fill the Ice Trays."

I still came back with malaria.