This is my take on a winter warmer specifically for sitting round the fire this Christmas…

Ingredients:

1.5l vodka 

500g blackberries, the fresher the better 

350g sugar

Two cinnamon sticks 

One star anise 

5 cloves 

Peel of two oranges 

Five cardamon pods 

Method: 

Put all of the above into a 2l Kilner jar, shake to dissolve the sugar. Remove the star anise after a week, it should be floating at the top. You’ll need to keep shaking every day for the first fortnight to dissolve the sugar. Place in a darkened cupboard for two months then strain and bottle.