Highgrove x bottlegreen Rhubarb & Ginger Cordial

Highgrove x bottlegreen Rhubarb & Ginger Cordial is a British cordial made with 14% pressed rhubarb juice, ginger extract and Cotswold spring water. Made in collaboration with bottlegreen, it takes its starting point from the Kitchen Garden at Highgrove in Gloucestershire, where the crops feed the household when His Majesty The King is in residence and supply the seasonal menus of the Orchard Room restaurant.

“The rhubarb patch in the kitchen garden was well-tended and impressive,” says Lynne McAlpine, the bottlegreen flavour expert who devised the range after a walking tour of the gardens. Of the three cordials that followed, she adds, “the flavour combinations almost made themselves.”

This is the boldest of the trio. Sharp, juicy rhubarb arrives first, then the heat of ginger follows to temper it, giving a cordial with real depth and a pleasing glow. It suits every season of the year: refreshing over ice in summer, and comforting when the evenings draw in.

For a long, cool drink, dilute to taste with chilled still or sparkling water and add a slice of lemon. For something more autumnal, try a stick of cinnamon in the glass, or make it with hot water for a warming cup on a cold afternoon.

The partnership between Highgrove and bottlegreen grew from a shared love of nature and craftsmanship, and a strong sense of place. Both are rooted in the Cotswolds, and the cordial is made only a few miles from the gardens. It is blended in small batches at bottlegreen’s original mill using traditional winemaking methods, and contains no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. It is also suitable for vegans.

Each 500ml bottle is finished with an exquisite illustration, which makes it a welcome addition to a Christmas hamper or a thoughtful present for a keen cook or gardener. Magnolia & Elderflower and English Rose & Raspberry complete the range for those who would like to try all three.