Summer time is the time for sundowners, hot, dry or humid evenings. A chilled drink as the sun sets.

In Summer I eat late usually after dark, which is around 9:30 to 10 pm, so dinner might be 9, 10 or 11 pm. Very Spanish. So a sundowner might be a pre dinner drink. Wifee is usually moaning about being hungry, so relaxed sundowners are rare.

I had a Sprtz recently at the tennis for the first time.

The eternal quest for the "Nitro Express" cocktail continues. As I don't put any organised time to it

It must be relevant to the Nitro Express theme, India or Africa.

It must be good to drink. If I don't like drinking it regularly, no way.

It must be quite simple, not some umbrella concoction.

Originality is a big problem. Most cocktail formulas already exist

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As an alcohol, rum and gin are obvious.

Rum made from sugar cane tropical

Gin is just raw alcohol flavoured with herbs and flavourings, diluted with water. But gin and tonic, a tropical favourite. Tonic water with quinine a protection against mosquitoes and malaria. The volume of tonic water required to be drunk is huge for effective protection.

Though whiskey would be a safari essential.

Brandy as it comes from grapes is a strong one for me.

White spirit would be very strong for me as a base. Local gins are often made from wine spirit. Adding water and herbals and flavours

Sparkling champagne was popular on luxury safaris.