Spiced Hot Port with Honey And Lemon

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Spiced Hot Port with Honey And Lemon

Details

Prep time:
10 mins
Cook time:
10 mins
Suitable for:
Everyone
Serves:
12+
Provided by:
Joby Catto

"This is a traditional Irish winter warmer of a drink. Best enjoyed on a cold evening after a bracing walk in the country, or after a long pre-Christmas shopping trip!"

Thanks to Joby Catto for spicing up our seasonal recipes with this Winter warmer.

Ingredients

  • An un-waxed lemon, sliced
  • Cloves
  • A bottle of ruby port (not tawny, and preferably not a vintage...save that for the stilton!)
  • Haughton Honey to taste
  • (thick, large glassware or mulling cups to serve)

Instructions

  1. Half-fill a glasses for each person with port, then pour these measures into a pan, and add the same volume of water. I recommend going half-and-half with fortified wine and water so you can make a longer drink without losing the flavour, or getting a surprise at how strong a large glass of port is!
  2. Heat the pan on the stove until it just starts to steam… do not let it boil! While that’s heating through, cut a couple of thick rounds of lemon and then stud each segment of the slice with a clove so it resembles a studded wheel, ready to infuse the drink with spice and citrus notes.
  3. Rinse some boiled water round the glasses to warm them, ready to receive the hot drink and keep it warm for longer. Pour the water in with a teaspoon in place so the heat doesn’t shatter them). Once warmed, tip out the water.
  4. Pour the warmed port into each of the glasses, then run the back of a teaspoon under some hot water. Dip the warmed spoon into the honey, and add a generous spoonful to each glass, pouring hot water over it to loosen and melt it. Give everything a good stir, then top it off with the studded lemon slice.
  5. Relax, breathe in the warming aromas, and let the smooth and homely flavours warm through. You may never bother with making mulled wine again!

Notes for the cook: if you have a fan-assisted oven then reduce the specified temperature in the recipe by about 15% ~ 1 teaspoon = 5ml and 1 tablespoon = 15ml ~ some ingredients are measured in cups and some equivalents are; 150g, 6oz (1/2 cup) = 120ml, 4fl oz