Christmas tree that takes hours to decorate is added to Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle 

Wrapping gifts and decorating trees can be thirsty work – the Carnarvons have a couple of enticing solutions…

HIGHCLERE GIN COCKTAIL  

For the thyme syrup

For each cocktail

  •  50ml (2fl oz) Highclere

Castle Gin (a recipe created

by Lord and Lady Carnarvon,

available online) or other gin

  •  25ml (1fl oz) thyme syrup
  •  150ml (5fl oz) tonic water
  •  A pink grapefruit, sliced thinly and cut into thirds

To make the syrup, place the water and sugar in a pan over a medium heat, bring to a boil and stir until dissolved. 

Remove from the heat and add the thyme. Cool, then strain through a sieve. 

To make the cocktail, pour the gin and 25ml syrup into a Copa de Balon glass (balloon glass with a long stem) filled with ice and stir. 

Add the tonic slowly and stir. Garnish with thyme and grapefruit. Leftover syrup will keep for up to 6 months in a sterilised jar. 

HIGHCLERE CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL

This drink is full of Christmas colour. It is a great favourite during festivities at the castle. 

For the spiced syrup 

  •  250ml (9fl oz) cold water 
  •  120g (4oz) sugar 
  • 3 cinnamon sticks 
  • 4 whole cloves 
  • Peel of ¼ of an orange For the cocktail 
  • 35ml (1fl oz) cranberry juice 
  • Sugar mixed with red food colouring 
  • 50ml (2fl oz) spiced syrup 
  • Highclere Champagne (the castle’s branded fizz, available online) or any good Champagne 

For the syrup, put the water, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and peel into a pan and bring to a boil over a low heat, stirring gently. 

Let the mixture reduce for 5 minutes once boiled, until syrupy. Remove the cinnamon, cloves and peel and leave the liquid to cool. 

To make the cocktail, dip the rim of a glass into cranberry juice and then the red sugar. 

Pour 50ml syrup and the remaining cranberry juice into the glass and top up with Champagne.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk