Winter warmer

Ingredients

For the spiced Cognac
1 x 750ml/1 pint 7fl oz bottle Cognac
1 litre/1 pint 15fl oz fresh orange juice
6 cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons allspice
2 star anise
For the winter warmer
200ml/7fl oz cloudy apple juice, heated in a saucepan
1 cinnamon stick
pinch allspice
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp brown sugar
50ml/1¾fl oz spiced Cognac
To garnish
1 tsp chopped apple
1 tsp chopped cucumber
1 tsp chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tsp chopped orange
1 tsp chopped lemon

Method

1. For the spiced Cognac, a week before you plan to make the cocktail, place all of the spiced Cognac ingredients into a jug and mix well. Transfer to a large bottle and seal the top. Leave to rest in a warm place (room temperature) for a week. Shake the bottle gently each day to mix the flavours.
2. To make the winter warmer, place the apple juice, cinnamon stick and allspice into a saucepan and place over a low heat. Warm through, but do not boil, then remove from the heat.
3. Place the sugar and lemon juice into a glass, add the spiced Cognac and hot apple juice and stir.
4. Garnish with the mixed chopped fruit and serve.