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.