A new 100 per cent English cocktail has been created by a Town Crier in Herefordshire.
The 'Turberfield Royale' was created by Ledbury Town Crier William Turberfield as a colourful British riposte to the Kir and Kir Royale two cocktails invented in 1946 by the Mayor of Dijon, France to overcome post World War Two red wine shortages and to provide him with faux 'red' wines for use at official functions.
Turberfield commented: "I have believed for some time that foreign wines should be considered superfluous when it comes to entertaining at official events. Why do people buy drinks from thousands of miles away, when delicious and natural ingredients are often within three miles of their door."
The new cocktail was chosen by a group of food lovers led by licensee Andy Ward of the Talbot Inn in Ledbury to win a local competition.
The recipe is made from:
• Pixley Berries Blackcurrant Cordial; (just a smidgeon) available from Waitrose, Ocado, Tanners and fine food shops.
• Weston's Original Perry 4.5% (www.westons-cider.co.uk or Mid Counties Co-op) made with local perry pears, grown especially for pear cider.
• Local strawberry 'bitters' - just 2 drips, or the widely available Angostura Aromatic Bitters, based on gentian (a bitter herb and digestive stimulant.)
Edward Thompson from Pixley Berries cordials added:
"Making your own version of The Turberfield Royale is easy.
"Served well chilled in wine glasses, the new Royale is deliciously fragrant and moreish. The perry pears combine with our Pixley blackcurrant to create a luscious drink with suggestions of rose petals, whilst my nephew's strawberry bitters (or Angostura bitters) add complexity and spice.
"But it is also much lower in alcohol than the 12% abv wines or the 15% abv+ blackcurrant Cassis often used in France to turn white wines pink."