Raspberry has powers of rescue: it is a favourite choice for postnatal women and an excellent all-around winter pick-me-up. Here, it lends its delicious flavour to vodka and the double effect is one of relaxed well-being. Either use the fruit from the last fall crop or buy some commercially grown.

9 ounces (about 2 1/4 cups) fresh raspberries, plus a few to decorate
2 tablespoons honey
a squeeze of lemon juice
juice of one orange
vodka, to serve

Process the raspberries, honey and juices in a blender until very liquid and thick. Press through a strainer, add a little water and bottle in the refrigerator for a day (it will make about 2 cups).

Just before you serve it on the following day/evening, warm the purée very gently in a pan and then add 1 or 2 teaspoons to a small shot of vodka, with a raspberry floating on the top (the cocktail should be body temperature). Take it carefully, for it has a powerful tendency to intoxicate.

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