Spiced Cranberry Gin Punch

This warming gin punch brings together tart cranberry, sweet apple, citrus and warming winter spices, simmered gently and finished with a good measure of Batts Hill Surrey Dry Gin. It's a brilliant crowd-pleaser: make it in one pot and ladle it out to as many glasses as you need.

It's a natural fit for Bonfire Night, standing round a fire pit with a warm glass in hand, but it works just as well at a Christmas gathering or any cosy night in.

Ingredients

• 500ml cranberry juice
• 200ml sherry or Sauvignon Blanc
• 1 apple, cut into pieces
• Peel of 1 lemon
• A few winter spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise and cloves
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 50ml Batts Hill Surrey Dry Gin per serving
• To garnish: a dried lemon slice or grapefruit peel and a cinnamon stick

Method

• Add the cranberry juice and sherry (or Sauvignon Blanc) to a pot.
• Stir in the spices, sugar and lemon peel, then drop in the apple pieces.
• Bring to the boil, then turn off the heat and leave to cool slightly.
• Once it's at a comfortable drinking temperature, pour into your favourite gin glass, letting a few apple pieces slip in too.
• Add 50ml of Batts Hill Surrey Dry Gin per glass.
• Garnish with a dried lemon slice or grapefruit peel and a cinnamon stick, and enjoy the aroma as much as the taste.

Serves a crowd, so scale the base mixture up for a bigger gathering and add the gin measure per glass as you serve.