Make this Dashing Cocktail to Celebrate Downton Abbey’s Season 6

Tonight marks the start of the sixth season of celebrated British series Downton Abbey. To properly welcome back one of our favorite TV families, we’ll be whipping up a batch of this dashing cocktail: the Clip Joint Cups, a twist on the English Pimm’s Cup, from bartender Leo Robitschek, bar manager of renowned N.Y.C.-based NoMad Bar.

This sweet and citrusy beverage is just the thing to help get you through whatever drama befalls the Crawley’s and their crew this evening.

Clip Joint Cup

Ingredients

2 grapefruit twists, 1 for muddling and 1 for garnish

2 cucumber slices, 1 for muddling and 1 for garnish

¾ oz club soda

¾ oz tonic water

½ oz Demerara simple syrup

½ oz Ginger lime syrup

¾ oz lime juice

1 oz Averna Amaro (an herbal Italian liquor) ($24; wineanthology.com)

1 oz Punt e Mes vermouth ($20; skwines.com)

Mint, for garnish

Demerara Simple Syrup (makes 2 cups)

1 cup Demerara sugar

1 cup hot water

Ginger Lime Syrup (makes 1 ½ qts)

21 oz water

3 ⅓ cups light brown sugar

1 ¼ cups ginger, chopped

1 ⅓ tbs lime zest

⅓ cup lime juice

Directions:

1. To make the Demerara Simple Sugar: Stir the sugar into the hot water until it’s fully dissolved. Let the syrup cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 1 month.

2. To make the Ginger Lime Syrup: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, simmer the water, sugar, and ginger for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and add the lime zest. Allow to steep for 30 minutes. Strain out the ginger and lime zest and add the lime juice. Let the syrup cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 1 month.

3. To assemble the cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, muddle a grapefruit twist and a cucumber slice with the Demerara Syrup. Fill a highball glass with 1¼-inch ice cubes and prime it with the club soda and tonic water. Add the rest of the ingredients except the garnishes to the shaker and shake. Strain the cocktail into the highball glass. Garnish with mint, a cucumber slice, and a grapefruit twist.