Founder of Spiritual Experiences, Alexis, the brains behind Drinks O’Clock saw a need to help people connect during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Five years later, Drinks O’Clock an interactive mixology experience is still going strong and fostering meaningful connections.
“We started this during COVID during lockdown when there was a real disconnection and people didn’t know how long they were going to be locked up for.
“I started creating these [cocktail] packages and delivering them to people’s houses. We’d get a mixologist, a deejay, we’d come together on Zoom and I’d host it and we had virtual Drinks O’Clock,” she said.
Although everyone may not see the value in such an exercise, Alexis, who is also a therapist, explained there were some mental health benefits to socialising and building community.
“Mental health and emotional well-being are at the core of this. When we started this, people were isolated, so I was about making sure that we connect more and connect through a shared joy of spirits, mixing and creating,” she added.
Eventually, the restrictions were lifted and the events continued.
“When they opened the doors and they let us back out, people wanted to do it face-to-face, so now, we do face-to-face events like this,” Alexis said.
She made the comments at Bean N Bagel 2.0, Abbeville Road, Rockley, Christ Church, recently she staged the latest Drinks O’Clock
Alexis hosted the activity while award-winning mixologist Philip Casanova Antoine led the tutorials.
He demonstrated how the patrons could use the various ingredients and utensils in their packages to make refreshing, potent, sweet and savoury cocktails such as the Sweet Monkey, Butterfly Daiquiri, Gold Roast and the Tropical Rainbow.
The patrons participate in a game and won prizes.
“We also do hybrid events so if your family can’t come with you, we will post a box to your family to ensure they can still stay connected,” Alexis said.
She added that the goal was to continue expanding the brand.
“We create cocktails based on different flavours. We bring you together, we measure everything out and we give you a lovely package for your friends or family.
“We’ve had Drinks O’Clock in London, we have it in Barbados and in an ideal world I want a Drinks O’Clock in other places in the region and I’d want us all to come together,” she added.
