Recipe

• 3 parts apple brandy (e.g. Calvados)

• 1 part lemon juice

• 1 part sugar syrup

• A few drops of Angostura bitters

Cut a thin slice out of the centre of a nice sweet apple, admire the 5-pointed rotational symmetry, and put it in a cocktail glass. Shake the brandy, lemon juice and syrup with ice and strain into the glass. Add a couple of drops of bitters.

I made this up the other night when I wanted to try something different. I stuck to the usual 3:1:1 sour cocktail formula I love, and added a little bitters ("the salt and pepper of cocktails") just to add depth.

The result was beautiful: intensely sharp but just sweet enough that it was a delight to drink. Apple works well as a garnish, and this was much less sickly than my various attempts at a mapletini.

I'd have this again!