Lullaby of Broadway: A blackberry cocktail recipe

In my twenties, I was obsessed with the 1930s. There was a song I used to have on my iPod - Lullaby of Broadway - that used to make me wish I'd wake up one day in that glamorous era. The lyrics spoke of a girl out partying all night long: 'Baby goes home to her flat to sleep all day. Goodnight baby, goodnight, milkman's on his way.'

Oh, the music! And the dresses, the dancing, the architecture: I love it all. But especially the cocktails. I've named this one after that charming song, and it's an autumnal delight that I imagine myself - my other, thirties self - getting giddy on and dancing the night away.

This cocktail uses a simple blackberry syrup that you can easily make, for this or for other uses (just as a cordial with sparkling water, perhaps, or as a topping for ice cream). It will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks. The addition of lavender adds a bit of glamour to the proceedings but you can leave it out if it's not your bag.

Blackberry and lavender syrup (makes 100ml)
150g blackberries
25g sugar
60ml water
Juice of half a lemon
3 lavender heads or up to a tablespoon of dried flowers

Place all the ingredients into a small pan and heat over a medium hob for 15-20 minutes, until the berries begin to break up.
Strain, cool and bottle.

Lullaby of Broadway cocktail
1 tbsp blackberry and lavender syrup
1 tbsp Tanqueray no.10 gin
Sparkling wine, to top

Pour the syrup into a cocktail glass. Add the gin, then top with chilled sparkling wine.
Be warned: this is potent.