BAYONETTA - Spiced Black Cherry Hot Tea Toddy

Complexity: ★☆☆☆☆

Bayonetta is definitely one of the most mature franchises represented in Smash, so it felt fitting to use this opportunity to make Gourmet Smash Ultimate's first alcoholic beverage. But please leave out the alcohol if you are not of legal drinking age!

I went for a hot toddy flavoured with citrus, honey, and spices, including cinnamon and even a pinch of chili pepper! Bringing together sweet and spice felt appropriate for Bayonetta's character. Stirring all of these ingredients as they're infusing in a bubbly pot will have you feeling like witch - and it will make your kitchen smell amazing!

I thought tea would be a very appropriate addition to this cocktail, given Bayonetta's British accent. I used black tea, and infused it with black cherries - befitting the mystique and dark magic of the Umbra Witches. Also, Bayonetta's real name, Cereza, is Spanish for "cherry"! Cherries are also known to be an aphrodisiac (so are chili peppers and honey), which is appropriate given the character's sensual nature.

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INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups water

• 1 cup pitted black cherries (fresh or frozen)

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 1 small knob of ginger, thinly sliced

• 1 lemon, sliced

• 1 orange, sliced

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 3 whole star anise

• 1 tsp whole cloves

• ¼ tsp nutmeg

• ⅛ tsp chili powder

• ½ vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped

• 4-5 English black tea bags

• 1 bottle of whiskey, rum, or brandy

• Honey, for serving

PREPARATION

1. Add water, cherries, and brown sugar to a medium pot. Stir over medium-high until sugar dissolves, mashing cherries with a spoon to release juices.

2. Add sliced ginger, lemon, orange, cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, nutmeg, chili pepper, and vanilla. Stir to combine, bring to a boil and allow to reduce for 5 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and add tea leaves. Steep tea in the hot water for 5-10 minutes, depending on how strong you want it.

4. Pour liquid through a fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher. Mash cherries through the sieve to extract all the juices. Discard the tea, spices, cherries, and citrus.

5. Put a spoonful of honey in the bottom of each mug. Squeeze in some lemon juice, if desired. Pour tea into each mug, leaving space to top off with rum (either do a ratio of two-thirds tea to one-third alcohol, or half and half depending on how boozy you want it!) Serve with extra lemon slices and cinnamon sticks.

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