It’s that magical time, marking the end of the harvest season and our descent into the darker half of the year - All Hallow’s Eve or Halloween - time to go guising, bobbing for apples and make offerings to the spirits that have long since departed with food and drink and warm hospitality. We can’t think of a better way to raise the spirits than THIS magical milk punch!

…and so with a nod to milk-loving faeriefolk and wandering souls we have this wonderful Halloween recipe, a heavenly mix of Black Cow vodka, whole milk, cream, honey, lavender tea & vanilla. Milk, which in pagan culture symbolised new life and was considered sacred, pure and often offered to placate magical spectres and powerful spirits; honey which in some forms of folk magic, is used to sweeten someone’s feelings towards you; vanilla, whose magic includes personal empowerment, good fortune, and mental stimulation; and lavender for its calming, healing and purification properties to create a warming and power enhancing punch

Ingredients

Makes six small servings

Black Cow vodka, 150ml 

Delicious fresh whole milk, 200ml

Finest double cream, 200ml

Honey (more or less to taste), 30ml 

1/2 a vanilla bean, split & scraped

Strong brewed lavender tea, 200ml

Lavender buds for garnish (optional)

Step by step

Brew a pot of strong lavender tea. You can make your own with dried/fresh lavender.

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Allow to sit for 10 minutes then strain and add the honey.

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Stir to dissolve the honey. Once dissolved combine with the vanilla, milk and cream and heat through gently until a froth forms. Do not boil.

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Add the Black Cow, stir and serve into small teacups. This can also be served chilled - shake the cream and cooled tea to create an extravagant froth.