The Boy and his Poison: The Desperate Measure

This week I'm part travel correspondent and part bon vivant. Stuck in a parochial bolt hole in North Devon, when the sun went down there was little else to do other than find innovative ways of exhausting the remnants of our host's decrepit drinks cabinet.

Two tired limes, a bottle of cognac (which looked like it had blessed more Christmas days than me) and the usual bits and pieces that you find in a holiday cottage initially left me stumped. Until I figured out the 'Desperate Measure'.

You'll need:

• 50ml Cognac
• 25ml lime
• 20ml sugar syrup (a few spoons of sugar in double the amount of water) 
• 1 Egg White

Make it:

• Add all the ingredients to a shaker 
• Dry shake until mixed
• Add a handful of ice
• Shake until chilled
• Strain into a coupe or martini glass