And after a wet morning at Shandy Hall gathering some of the apples for our quintessentially English vodka’s recipe, we visited nearby Grantley Hall for a tipple in the grand library-esque Norton Bar.
They call this ‘God’s Own Country’ and its weathered stone walls, wild valleys and awe-inspiring rocky hills make North Yorkshire feel a place where the clock ticks much more slowly. It’s certainly a place of timeless permanence.
Grantley Manor sits between the immovable Yorkshire Dales and Yorkshire Moors and it dates back to 1680. The Grade II listed house has since been reimagined as a luxurious 5-star hotel complete with boating lakes, cascading waterfalls and abundant landscaped grounds to explore.
And this Bloody Mary is very Yorkshire affair too, made with traditional Henderson’s Relish — a much revered traditional Sheffield condiment which takes the place of Worcestershire Sauce, giving the cocktail a lighter and more tangy flavour.
Build the cocktail in a highball glass with plenty of ice and stir to combine thoroughly. Add one or two fresh rosemary sprigs and singe them with a flame.