Roast Lemon and Bay Leaf Spiked Lemonade

So in times of lockdown while we had a resident mixologist we decided to fling some cocktails around to keep our spirits up. We do love a good Vineyard Cottages cocktail and with a huge bay tree and lots of lemons this is a favourite!

It’s lemon season here at VC so we pulled some perfectly ripe lemons off the tree and created this delicious spiked lemonade! Perfect for a day hanging the laundry out in the sunshine and chopping up firewood for the cottage fireplaces!

• 3 lemons, quartered lengthwise, plus 6 wheels for garnish
•  3 fresh bay leaves, plus 6 more for garnish
•  1 cup caster sugar
•  3 cups water
•  1 ½ cups vodka
•  Ice
• One cup Club Soda

Preheat the oven to 200 and in a small roasting pan or dish add the lemons and bay leaves.  Roast them in the oven for 20-25 mins until they have softened. If they have started to brown a little that is perfect. Scrape the contents of the pan with all the juices into a large jug and add the caster sugar, water, ice and vodka. Leave in the fridge to cool for a while.  Strain through a sieve into a pitcher after one hour. Serve in high balls with ice and club soda.