Five Minutes With | Portia Freeman

Five Minutes With… is our segment with the wonderful personalities of our time. Up today is the marvelous model and muse Portia Freeman who during lockdown started to share her passion for cocktails and Portia’s Happy Hour was born. We are excited to share her brilliant answers on everything from the making of the perfect cocktail and more with you. Grab a non alcoholic cocktail since it is Dry January and read further…

1. Hello Portia thank you for the interview. Here at Story Magazine we love your Instagram page and the mocktails that you create. What inspired you to start posting on drinks?

Hi guys, thank you so much for having me! Aww thank you – my passion for cocktails all began right at the start of the first lockdown. I was always a ‘pour myself a glass of wine’ type gal so as soon as I made my first cocktail on stories with my instaFAM♥️ (was a Raspberry Margarita), we all had so much fun and I adored how it really brought everyone together at a time when we all felt so far apart. I discovered a spark inside of me which I had no idea existed so naturally I explored this path and here we are today.

2. Tell us the story behind Portia’s Happy Hour.

Well kind of echoing what I said above, Portia’s Happy Hour was born out of lockdown and every week I focused heavily on ingredients we could all find knocking about in our fridge, freezer and/or kitchen cupboard because for many, getting to the shops was a bit of an obstacle in some way, shape or form. PHH is all about fun, positivity, accessibility, creativity and exploring flavours you may not have tried before. Going for it and not being perfect but as long as it tastes amazing. Everyone is welcome, even kids when we create a non alcoholic bevvy. In fact the kids love it! Music that I play with each episode of PHH is really important to me. It gets us moving, lifts our spirits and creates a fun and carefree energy. What’s more to love? A great cocktail in one hand, an outfit to make yourself feel amazing (pjs totally count btw) and your other hand firmly on my PHH Playlist…! It’s a solid vibe babes.

3. Happy Dry January. Are you observing it and what do you think of it?

Happy Dry Jan to you too… Hmm, what are my thoughts? Many quit drinking in January and for however long they decide not to drink is different for everyone. I for sure have been mindful about how much I’ve had to drink this month, it’s a great time to reset as there was so much indulgence over the festive period, this point focuses on food as well as drink. I’ve had the odd glass of wine here and there, cheeky cocktail after filming etc…but I’ve also done this things like sugar, wheat etc. It’s a damp cleanse, lets say.

Coming from PHH’s point of view and creating non alc cocktails for myself and others, in all honesty there was a time when I was really intimidated because they felt super stripped back and, well in all honesty… boring. After a good 5-6 months of experimenting, I was determined to change that view for my own opinion and my PHH community. Where do I begin?! I discovered a whole different set of tastebuds and my passion for creating cocktails both with and without alcohol went to a deeper level. The label ‘Dry Jan’ is so boring, its bad enough when January is a dull month let alone calling it ‘Dry Jan’. It doesn’t need to be dry when your guzzling multiple gorgeous non alcoholic cocktails. And don’t even get me started on that word ‘mocktail’… that word has had its time and after LOTS of conversation with many, we all feel the same. Mocktails tend to be filled with sugar in an attempt to mask the dull flavour of the original drink. Going on a bit of a rant here aren’t I?! All that said, I am here for Dry Jan, just wish it changed its name!

4. It is almost the end of Dry January.Any tips for hanging in there for any of those struggling to stay motivated?

January as a whole can be a tricky month for many. We’re decompressing after Christmas, a time of year which is challenging in so many ways. So for me personally, the month of January is all about being kind to yourself. Set those goals, revamp your rituals and stick by them. Don’t go in too deep by setting tasks which seem totally unrealistic. Each day is a step closer to where you want to be, remember that. If you have a grey day (like I did last week) and feel the weight, allow those feelings, accept them and let them gently pass because as annoying as it is, that grey sluggish day where your face feels like a smacked ass is part of the journey you’re embarking on. Look after yourself and know that so many are in the same boat. Talk about how you feel discuss those goals you have in mind and write everything down. Put it out to the universe and trust your gut. Everything happens for a reason, trust that angel. Dry Janning or not, its about you at the end of the day, don’t beat yourself up if you have a glass of vino with your spag bol.

5. Could you please share a mocktail recipe for our readers?

Non alcoholic Bee Sour 💛

What you need:

▫️50ml lemon juice

▫️5ml apple cider vinegar (I used @willysacv Turmeric & Honey)

▫️1 tbs of runny honey

▫️egg white OR aquafaba

▫️juice from half an orange

▫️Ginger beer (I used @fevertreemixers)

▫️ ICE

*Garnish, I used a blood orange wheel and bee pollen

– – – – – –

What we do…

1. Add your lemon and orange juice, honey, egg white and vinegar to your shaker and dry shake hard for 8-10 seconds

2. Add your ice and shake hard again, get that ice working it’s magic

3. Strain and pour in a glass over ice and top with ginger beer

This non alc cocktail is actually super healthy! If you swap the honey for Stevia syrup its also a very gut friendly drink. I adored creating this recipe for Bryony Gordon as she was this months guest on PHH. The recipe itself is incredibly simple and without a doubt you will have the main ingredients rolling around in the fridge.

6. We love your Instagram and how you infuse drink posts into your social media. What inspires your drink recipes?

Awww thank youuuu. Tbh I’ve only ever posted what I want to post, I take it day by day and post as and when I fancy. When it comes to cocktails its a similar vibe. I’ll share what I’m upto, recipes I’m working on and collabs I work on hard behind the scenes. I’m very passionate about working with ingredients which are in season and accessible. I’ll take inspo from literally everything! Things like my fruit bowl, foods used for breakfast in the morning before my children go to school, what people have for lunch if they’ve shared it on insta or even people on a winter sun getaway. Inspiration really is everywhere if you look close enough. Valentines is right around the corner so currently I’m creating for that.

7. A tip for bettering our drink experience in 2022?

Ooooo good question!! If making cocktails at home, always shake your ingredients properly. There’s nothing worse than a half assed shaken cocktail, both with or without alcohol!!

8. Mocktail or cocktails? What do you prefer?

Cocktails FOREVERRRR AND FOR EVERYONNNEEE!!! The word mocktail should be banished haha! If opting for a non alcoholic cocktail, hopefully that non alcoholic cocktail can have its own well known name in its own right and remove the ‘virgin’ part. Whoever serves the drink will know its a cocktail minus then booze. Hey presto, we all come as one!

9. What does being a drinks editor involve?

Yeah sounds fancy that doesn’t it? Haha, to be totally honest I’m still learning what that involves myself so ask me again in 6 months time. Joking aside, becoming drinks editor for The Wedding Edition has given me so much confidence and the feel of support for those girls really does mean the world to me as they have a number of people they could’ve asked. We have some wonderful projects coming up this year and I cannot wait to share, lots of course involving my take on the perfect cocktails we should all be sampling.

10. Finish the sentence… a great drink starts with a …..?

… a great drink starts with a… bag of ice! Boring but it’s true – the key and most important ingredient of any cocktail!

A massive thanks to Portia for her answers.We loved them. We are now off to make her non alcoholic Bee Sour. Cheers!
Follow her on Instagram at her happy hour here.