The artistic inspiration comes from two works connected by their extraordinary use of light.

In Decorating the Christmas Tree by Marcel Rieder, warm illumination spills through a room as figures prepare for a celebration. The painting captures the comfort of gathering indoors while winter waits beyond the windows. There is anticipation, warmth, and a sense of shared ritual.

Meanwhile, Mulligans Flat Morning 2026 by Richie Southerton offers a distinctly Australian winter scene. Golden morning light filters through mist and flooded gums, transforming a cold landscape into something almost magical. The image reminds us that winter light has its own character — softer, lower, and often more beautiful because it is fleeting.

Together, these works speak to what we love most about this season. The contrast between warmth and cold. Darkness and light. Rest and renewal.

The Winter Solstice has long been recognised as a turning point. The longest night marks not an ending, but a beginning. From this moment forward, the days slowly lengthen. Light returns.

This cocktail is our invitation to celebrate that transition. To honour the harvest now behind us. To appreciate the beauty of winter’s stillness. To gather with friends, wrap your hands around something warm, and welcome the return of the light.