So much of island life revolves around drinking. Actually… scratch that. I think it’s closer in accuracy to say that drinking is more of an ubiquitous activity down here, as much a part of the scenery as the sand and sea. No matter what you’re up to, there’s usually cocktails involved. It’s like a drunken adult version of Green Eggs and Ham – “I can drink drinks on a boat, while I float! In the car, and at the bar! After work – hell, during work!”
Anywhere else in the world, all of this imbibing would likely have a stigma attached to it. Screwdrivers before noon on a Tuesday and suddenly you’re the neighborhood alcoholic. But for the most part, I find that my fellow islanders handle and manage their alcohol intake a bit more responsibly than those who consume it less frequently (all you have to do is people-watch the tourists at the bar – it’s often like teenagers left alone with their parent’s liquor cabinet). Of course, there are certainly exceptions to this rule but for me, I see this free-spirited, minimal judgment approach to alcohol as a major win for island life.
So in true island woman fashion, we decided we were in need of a signature cocktail for our community of rock-dwelling lady folk. And since I’m more of a make-it-up-as-I-go kind of cook, I thought it best to collaborate with my fellow woman on a rock and cooking/recipe guru, Ice from Foolproof Living (You may also remember her from her invaluable contribution to this site, You Can Cook Here – 9 Island Ingredient Issues Solved!).
We wanted to create something light and refreshing, perfect for the sweltering days of summer which are almost upon us. We melded the crisp flavors of Hendrick’s gin, honeydew melon, cucumbers, and lime… seriously, it may as well be a health drink.
Head on over to Foolproof Living for the full recipe and let us know what you think.
Cheers!
Current Rock of Residence:
Virgin Gorda, BVI
Island Girl Since:
2006
Originally Hails From:
California
Chrissann’s home rock in the British Virgin Islands feels bigger to her than it actually is. Though after spending five years on a teensy one acre island, the current 13-mile long rock she’s residing on now IS ginormous, at least by comparison. As with everything in the tropics, it’s all about perspective.
Once upon a time she used to care about things like matching her purse to her pumps but these days, any activities that require a bra and shoes go under careful, is-this-even-worth-it consideration. If island life has taught her anything at all, it’s that few things are more rewarding than time spent in the pool with a cocktail in hand.
As the Editor in Chief of this site, she spends her days working from home with her blue-eyed sidekick, Island Dog Diego, writing, editing, and cultivating content in the hopes of bringing some laughter and lightness to her fellow island souls. She recently published her first children’s book, When You’re a Baby Who Lives on a Rock, and is pretty pumped to share it with all of the island mamas out there. Her days off are typically spent boating, hiking, and meeting up with the neighborhood’s imperious roadside goats, who she shamelessly bribes into friendship. While normalcy was never listed as one of her special skills, Caribbean life may indeed be responsible for new levels of madness. She attributes at least a smidge of her insanity to the amount of time she spends talking to drunk people.
If you’re somehow still reading this and feel inclined to find out more about this “Chrissann” of which we speak, you can also take a gander at her eponymous website or follow her daily escapades on Instagram @womanonarock.
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