This is a traditional British drink that’s perfect for warming yourself and any guests on chilly days. It’s typically served during the holiday season in Britain, and makes a delicious accompaniment to any festive fare. Be warned: it tastes so good that it’s very easy to unwittingly imbue an excess!

Ready

• 1 bottle of red wine
• 2 oz demerara sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Cloves (to taste)
• Nutmeg, grated
• 1 orange, halved
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 2 fl oz of sloe or damson gin (optional)

Set

• A big pan and a ladel
• A strainer
• Heatproof glasses to serve

Go

1. Put the wine into a pan with the orange, sugar, bay leaf and the spices
2. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Do not let the wine boil, as this will effect the taste.
3. Sample the wine, and if you would like it sweeter, add more sugar.
4. Remove the wine from the heat, and add the gin if you are using it.
5. Strain the wine into heatproof glasses and serve at once.

What you should know

Demerara sugar is a pale-colored, mild-tasting raw sugar, named after its place of origin - Demerara in Guyana. Raw brown sugar is a perfectly adequate substitute.

Sloe and Damson Gin are both traditional sorts of gin, made using sloe berries or damsons. They are virtually impossible to find over here, but regular good quality gin works fine.