Name: Mulled gin
Total time: 20 min
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients: 400ml gin, (use 200ml if you prefer a less boozy drink); 1 litre apple juice (not from concentrate); 2 cloves; 2 cardamom pods, bruised using a pestle and mortar or the end of a rolling pin; 1 cinnamon stick; 4 juniper berries; ¼ tsp black peppercorns; 1 tbsp runny honey; a dash spiced liqueur, (we used Sky Wave Spiced Apple gin liqueur, but cherry brandy also works well); lemon and pear slices, star anise and cinnamon sticks, to garnish

A blue background with a glass mug at the front filled with a dark yellow spiced drink and a cinnamon stick

400ml gin
(use 200ml if you prefer a less boozy drink)
1 litre apple juice (not from concentrate)
2 cloves
2 cardamom pods
bruised using a pestle and mortar or the end of a rolling pin
1 cinnamon stick
4 juniper berries
¼ tsp black peppercorns
1 tbsp runny honey
a dash spiced liqueur
(we used Sky Wave Spiced Apple gin liqueur, but cherry brandy also works well)
lemon and pear slices, star anise and cinnamon sticks
to garnish

Method

step 1
Divide the gin between eight heatproof glass mugs. Tip the apple juice, cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, juniper berries, peppercorns and honey into a large pan and warm gently over a low heat until just simmering. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 1 hour, then strain into a large jug and discard the aromatics.
step 2
To serve, reheat the mulled apple juice over a low heat, if needed, then stir in the liqueur and divide between the cups. Stir to combine with the gin, then garnish with lemon and pear slices, star anise and cinnamon sticks before serving.