At Christmas, or any other time for that matter, why not try Teacher’s recipe for a whisky-inspired mince pie. You’ll need a 12 hole non-stick bun tin. The recipe makes 8-10 mince pies.

INGREDIENTS
Mincemeat Filling (makes 3llb / 1.35kg) 225g (8oz) apples, peeled, cored and chopped (drier texture apples are best)

• 4oz shredded suet
• 14oz dried mixed fruit
• 4oz candied peel, finely chopped
• 6oz dark brown sugar
• Zest and juice of one orange
• Zest and juice of one lemon
• 1oz finely chopped almonds
• 2 teaspoons mixed spice
• ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 3 tablespoons Teacher’s Whisky

METHOD

1. Combine all the ingredients, with the exception of the Teacher’s in an oven proof bowl.

2. Cover with a muslin cloth and leave to infused for 12 hours, or overnight in a cool place.

3. Pre-heat the oven to 120ºC/248ºF.

4. Remove the muslin cloth and loosely cover the bowl with tin foil and put in the oven.

5. Leave the mixture to heat through for 3 hours to let the flavors develop, then take out of the oven to cool, stirring periodically to help blend the ingredients together.

6. Once cool, add the Teacher’s Whisky and store in an airtight container in a cool dry place.

7. Best eaten within a year of being made.

8. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/356ºF.

9. Flour an even surface and roll out the shortcrust pastry as thinly as possible.

10. Cut the pastry into 8-10 3 inch rounds and the remaining pastry into strips for the lattice topping, ensuring you re-roll the trimmings.

11. Line the cake tins lightly with butter and dust with flour, then gently fit a 3 inch pastry round into each tin.

12. Fill these with the mincemeat mixture until level with the top of the tin.

13. Dampen the edges of the lattice strips with water and press lightly onto each pie to form the top of the pie.

14. Brush the lattice lids with milk.

15. Bake for 25-30 minutes until light golden brown.

16. Cool on a rack and dust the tops with icing sugar. Store in an airtight container.

17. For more information, go to: www.Scotsman.com Whisky.