There’s nothing quite like that first sip of something warm on a frosty December evening. The air is sharp, your cheeks are glowing from the cold, and then you wrap your hands around a steaming mug. The scent of cinnamon and citrus swirls up to meet you. One sip, and suddenly winter feels less like a chill to endure and more like a season to celebrate. This year, there are two new festive favourites waiting to claim their place by the fire: Aperoffi Hot Punch and Aperoffi Espresso Martini.
Aperoffi, the newest spirit from Penarth’s Grounds for Good, was made for winter moments. With its bittersweet citrus flavour and subtle herbal notes, it’s the perfect match for mulled spices and orchard fruits. Available online at www.groundsforgood.co.uk and at: Fine Wines Direct UK, Penarth Road, Cardiff; Hamptons Penarth; and Griff’s Deli, Penarth.
Aperoffi Hot Punch
Where traditional mulled red wine can feel heavy, Aperoffi Hot Punch is lighter on the palate but full of character. The apple juice gives it a crisp sweetness, the orange adds sparkle, and the honey softens everything into one harmonious hug in a glass. Add a crackling fire, a wool blanket, and your favourite people, and you’ve got yourself a new seasonal ritual.
Ingredients
- Aperoffi
- White Glühwein – homemade mulled white wine is perfect, but a dry Riesling or Pinot Grigio works a treat
- Unsweetened apple juice
- Honey – start with two tablespoons, then adjust to taste
- Fresh oranges
- Cinnamon sticks
Method
Warm the wine gently with apple juice, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks – let the fragrance fill your kitchen. Stir in Aperoffi and honey, tasting as you go until it’s just right for you. Serve in mugs, topped with a slice of orange or a cinnamon stick for the finishing touch.
Aperoffi Espresso Martini
If hot punch is the drink for snuggly nights in, then this one’s for lively evenings when the music’s playing and the laughter is loud: the Aperoffi Espresso Martini. The classic cocktail gets a winter makeover here. Aperoffi adds a bittersweet citrus edge that pairs beautifully with rich coffee, making the drink both indulgent and refreshing.
Ingredients
- 40ml Aperoffi
- 30ml fresh espresso (or strong coffee)
- 20ml coffee liqueur
- 10ml sugar syrup (optional, to taste)
Method
Shake everything hard with ice until frothy. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with three coffee beans. The Aperoffi’s citrus lift cuts through the richness, keeping the drink lively, bright and distinctly festive.
Raise a glass with purpose
Whether you’re sipping a steaming hot punch after a windswept walk or clinking Espresso Martinis at a glittering party, Aperoffi brings more than flavour to the season. As with all Grounds for Good creations, every bottle supports homelessness initiatives and champions sustainability.
So this Christmas, why not make tradition your own? Swap mulled wine for Aperoffi Hot Punch or serve something unexpected with an Aperoffi Espresso Martini, and toast not just to good taste – but to doing good, too.
