The Punchline

Punch should live up to its name. It should hit you with a clatter. Here is a powerful punch recipe from Richard Whittington's book, Cutting Edge. It should carry a health warning. He calls it "Mullholland-driven Madness".150ml (quarter pint) Calvados 150ml (quarter pint) dry sherry

1.1 litre (two pints) dry cider

8 strips cucumber peel

575ml (1 pint) club soda water

For the lemon sugar syrup:

450g (1lb) castor sugar

2 lemons

To make the lemon sugar syrup: dissolve the sugar in 500 ml (16 fl oz) water. Add the pared zest and juice of the lemons. Bring to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool and then refrigerate in a screw-top jar with the lemon zest. You can also use this for other things, such as sorbets and drinks.

In a jug, mix one tablespoon of the cool lemon sugar syrup with the Calvados and the sherry. Top up with ice-cold cider.

Put a strip of cucumber peel into each tall glass with some ice. Pour the mixture in and add a splash of soda to give it a little fizz.