When we first cooked up this showstopping sloe gin-infused hot chocolate in the Craft Gin Club headquarters, we have to admit that we all got extremely giggly for a while there at just how good it was. Quite simply, it’s the best hot drink most of us have tasted in a very long time!

Trust us: you are going to absolutely LOVE this mouthwatering, warming, gently spiced and totally, creamily, wickedly indulgent drink. Make it for all your friends. And family. And neighbours. It will keep you warm all autumn and winter long. Happy sipping, folks! And if you fancy making your own sloe gin, click this link right here.

Sloe Gin Hot Chocolate
Serves two

300ml full-fat or semi-skimmed milk
100ml double cream
75g melted chocolate (or half chocolate and half the same amount of powdered drinking chocolate)
Spice mix: a few cloves, a little twist of black pepper, a few drops of vanilla, a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon
70ml sloe gin

Add your milk, cream and chocolate (plus drinking chocolate, if using), plus your spice mix to a thick-bottomed pan and heat very gently for about 10 minutes to infuse the liquid with the spices. After 10 minutes, increase the heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly to ensure a smooth texture.

In two cups or heatproof glasses, add 35ml of the sloe gin to each, then strain the spiced hot chocolate into the cup over the top of your sloe gin and serve!

Adapted from an original recipe on Sipsmith.com.