While we’ve enjoyed a bijou drinkette 38 days in a row, the teensiest catch is: Christmas – from gift-buying to menu-planning – is an absolute car crash. Our unique solution: spending three hours drinking gin at the wonderful House of Boë in South Queensferry … and you know what? We feel better already!

Not only has Boë made this historic village its spiritual home, it’s transformed what was once a dreary old bank into the most colourful shop on the high street, boasting a lavish range of gin, gin liqueur and vodka, as well as the likes of artisan chocolate and the always popular Cheese Drinks Biscuits.

Thanks to Nadia – our gorgeous host – it’s a visual feast we’re pairing with a ridiculously generous pour of Boe’s Scottish Gin. Handpicked botanicals, a dash of citrus, a little spice, and then triple-distilled to give a smooth, sophisticated flavour. Our verdict: can we just say: FAB-U-LOUS! 

Following several encores, and four boxes of the aforementioned cheese biscuits, we’re moving on the Queensferry Collection – combining 13 Oriental botanicals such as Thai basil, lemongrass & ginger to dazzling and rather anlcoholic effect.

Inspired to make gin the main course of our Christmas dinner, it’s also today’s opportunity to lead our niece from New Zealand astray. Taking a gap year, Maxine’s  decided what better role models could she ask for than her Edinburgh druncles.

Her life already immeasurably changed, and possibly in black-out, we insist she try a Bramble Gin with Mediterranean tonic, it’s UTTERLY magnificent. Then, when she’s had six of those, perhaps the Passionfruit Gin, which feels very much like sunshine in a glass – something that’s essential when living in Britain.

Meanwhile Nadia, who already we’re deeply in love with, is tempting us yet further with a series of award-winning vodka shots – YES PLEASE – and a platter of Raspberry & Processo marshmallow. How wonderfully festive!

She’s also sharing her plans for the House of Boë, which include: endless tastings, afternoon teas, and cocktail masterclasses. There’s even talk – somewhere around the seventeenth gin – of the Social Bitches signing on as its official tasters. A genius idea, we totally accept.

Let’s toast, we slur, with a cheeky liqueur. But which to try? Scottish Bramble, Peach & Hibiscus, or Spiced Orange? The correct answer: ALL OF THEM mother-f**ker, we can worry about Christmas tomorrow …