Mr Scrooge’s Tea
There are a few stages to this warming, festive cocktail, but there’s nothing remotely complicated about any of them. It’ll help blow away any post-Christmas party cobwebs instantly.
Serves 1
For the ginger butter
100g butter
1 tbsp ginger juice
For the hibiscus tea
1 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers
300ml boiling water
For the drink
50ml cider brandy or calvados
5ml lemon juice
20ml honey water – just mix equal parts honey and water
30g ginger butter (see method)
150ml hibiscus tea (see method)
1 cinnamon stick and 1 long lemon twist, to garnish
First make the flavoured butter. Beat the softened butter until it’s creamy, then gradually beat in the fresh ginger juice. Roll into a log in wet greaseproof paper, chill until firm, then re-wrap in clingfilm and chill again – the butter will now keep in the fridge for four to five days, or for up to three months in the freezer.
To make the drink, put the hibiscus flowers in a jug, add the boiled water, infuse for four minutes, then strain into a tea pot. Put everything else in a tea cup or hot toddy glass, slowly pour on the hot tea, garnish and serve at once.
• Luca Rapetti, bar manager, The Baptist Bar, L’Oscar