Review ofThree Wise Monkeys in Colchester city centre

Some Christmas luxuries such as vaguely European stollen, yummy yule logs, and snack-sized marzipan bars are so good that despite their quite high prices, I want them to be in supermarkets all year round.

Yet for Christmas cocktails – which again tend to be pricier – I find myself increasingly thinking that timeless drinks are also seasonless.

Case in point, it’s before 8 o’clock on the Tuesday before Christmas and though I was truly fine with it (no lives were lost!) there was no candy-cane gin left for what seemed to be the bar’s ‘flagship’ Christmas cocktail.

Enjoyable - The opening act immediately raised the spirits of the bar (Image: Newsquest)

Deciding against a festive “Chambord Bellini” – which sounded very similar to the orange juice and champagne combo many make at home on Christmas day – I then ordered a Tarquins Figroni.

Partly a Negroni and partly Tarquins’s 'Figgy Pudding', the drink costing £8.50, was very fragrant and very strong. 

I am confident some would have loved this powerful drink, but after a long time spent sipping, adding tonic water did create a very lovely and novel gin and tonic combination.

Diluted - The Tarquin Figroni with more tonic would be loved by gin and tonic fans (Image: Newsquest)

While enjoying the diluted cocktail, the night’s open mic started promptly at half eight with the first song, an acoustic version of a 90s love song, both being relaxing and interesting. 

In the short break I was quickly served with a Whiskey sour – still sharp but much more palatable than the last time I tried one – and then I settled down to watch several more musicians.

Sharp - The Whiskey Sour at £9 had just the right amount of kick (Image: Newsquest)

There was a sense of belonging and contentedness at the open mic, with all worries being left far away where they should be, as the talented singers played three-song set lists.

Saving my best drink to last, a refreshing blackberry-infused ‘Bramble’ which is also more affordable at £7.50. 

I sat in my table seat - the crowds of Christmas jumpers wearing professionals had thinned out towards 10 o'clock - and savoured the festive atmosphere. 

Fruity - The must-drink Bramble contains the blackberry liquor 'crème de mûre' (Image: Newsquest)

I felt very grateful to be at the Three Wise's music-night, and further thought how Colchester should be grateful to have this welcoming space all year round.