Claret Punch

Ingredients

• 1 bottle Red wine (Claret or Bordeaux) (Standard 750ml bottle. Originally 'Claret bottle 1'.)
• 1 bottle Sparkling lemonade (Approx 750ml. Use a high-quality clear lemon soda or traditional sparkling lemonade.)
• 1 bottle Soda water (Club soda) (Approx 750ml.)
• 1/4 cup Sherry (Originally '1 sherry wine glass'. A historical wineglass measure is approx 2 fluid ounces.)
• 1 whole Orange (large) (Juiced. Can substitute with 1 sweet lime (mosambi).)
• 1 inch Cinnamon stick
• 7 whole Green cardamom pods
• 7 whole Cloves
• 1/2 cup Granulated sugar (Quantity estimated. Adjust to taste.)
• 4 cups Ice cubes (Or as needed for serving.)

Instructions

1. 1Break the cinnamon stick and cloves into small pieces. Open the cardamom pods and extract the seeds; discard the husks.
2. 2In a large crystal or ceramic punch bowl (or large jug), combine the red wine, sparkling lemonade, soda water, sherry, and the juice of the orange. Add the prepared spices (cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom seeds) to the liquid.
3. 3Stir in sugar gradually, tasting as you go, until the desired sweetness is reached. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean serving vessel to remove the spice solids.
4. 4Add plenty of ice to the strained punch and serve immediately.