Sensational sundowners: Seven drinks to enjoy as the last light of day slips away

It’ll be sunset somewhere in the world whenever you drink your sundowner. Picture: Getty

Gary Law

Depending on where you are in the world, a sundowner can be very different things. In Australia, for example, the word is a slang term for a vagrant, while in New Zealand it’s what farmers call a lazy sheepdog. And if you’re a disgruntled sailor in the US Navy, a sundowner is how you might refer to a strict officer who keeps you working too long.

In South Africa, however, the word signifies something much more appealing. There, a sundowner is a drink traditionally enjoyed as the sun sinks below the horizon, which in lovely Cape Town usually means anywhere between 6pm and 8pm. As dusk approaches, you’ll find hordes of locals and visitors crowding on to the city’s terraces to enjoy their favourite tipple. Some will head to the beach to savour the spectacle with a bottle of wine; others might take a case of beer up to Signal Hill to catch the sun’s last rays.​