SPICED HOT PORT WITH HONEY AND LEMON

"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.
- 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)
If you have a fan-assisted oven then reduce the specified temperature in the recipe by about 15%.
1 teaspoon = 5ml
1 tablespoon = 15ml.
Some ingredients are measured in cups and some equivalents are;
150g, 6oz (1/2 cup) = 120ml, 4fl oz.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 raw 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.
- Relax, breathe in the warming aromas, and let the smooth and homely flavours warm through. You may never bother with making mulled wine again!