Spiced Cider

• 1 big knob (double thumb size) of fresh root ginger
• 1 big sprig of fresh thyme
• 300

Peel and finely slice the ginger, throwing it into the bottom of a large saucepan. Add the thyme, apple juice, sugar and cinnamon sticks. Pour over the cider and Armagnac or other brandy to taste, and put the whole potion on the hob, getting it very hot but on no account simmering or boiling it, which would destroy the alcohol content. Ration it out with a ladle into glasses, although after an