Ingredients

Method

For the spiced sugar syrup:
• 100 g sugar
• ½ cup water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• fresh ginger, to taste
• 1 star anise
• a few cloves
For the cocktail:
• ice, for mixing
• 3 T vodka (or gin)
• 1 T spiced syrup
• 1 T dry vermouth
• 2 T clear apple juice (optional)
• orange peel, for garnish

Method

Ingredients

1. Prepare the spiced sugar syrup in advance: simmer sugar and water with 1 cinnamon stick, sliced fresh ginger, 1 star anise and a few cloves.

2. Strain and chill; the syrup will keep well in the fridge*.

3. To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add vodka (or gin),  spiced syrup, dry vermouth and clear apple juice. Shake, pour, and garnish with orange peel.

Cook's note: *Alternatively: add a dash of syrup to brandy, whisky or cognac on ice for, quite possibly, the perfect autumn nightcap.

Find more cocktail recipes here. 

Photograph: Andrea Van Der Spuy
Production: Bianca Strydom
Food assistant: Irinja Bekker