Past the artichokes, we turn a corner toward the green, olive-shaped drupes (immature nuts) that have sprouted on our walnut trees. And finally, we meander across the lawn to inspect the cob and corkscrew hazel trees.

What does this mean in drink-think? Time to make home versions of Cynar, Nocino, and Frangelico.

Without a pair of leather gardening gloves, peeling raw artichoke leaves becomes a metaphor for bloodletting, so get the gloves on first or snip those spikes off with a pair of scissors. Ten uncooked artichoke leaves go into a 1-litre clip-top jar with grated orange zest. Add as much zest as you like.

Traditionally, Cynar is made on a grappa base, but if you prefer a lighter touch, you can try using a grape or grain-based vodka as your primary liquid. Steep for four to six weeks – remember, all maceration times have a flavour bell curve, and overly-long is rarely better than correct timing. During the maceration, test and adjust your citrus balance weekly with more zest. Strain the liquid into a jug and add a little sweetness. Here, you can go one of three ways: add a tablespoon of brown sugar; add the treacly nose of dark muscovado sugar; or go straight to the deep, spicy goodness of dark treacle. Be sure to add a little at a time and taste as you go. When you hit your desired sweetness level or a bit under it, stir well and pour into a bottle and seal. Allow your cynar to mature for at least a month to allow the flavours to harmonise.

Making Nocino is a little more complicated. Gather 25 green walnuts as soon as they are walnut-sized. Though tradition dictates you must gather them overnight between June 23 and 24 to keep the witches from stealing them, you can simply order them online from places such as the Potash Farm shop (kentishcobnuts.com). If you are harvesting them yourself, don’t wait or the squirrels (the real witches in this Grimm tale) will harvest them. To process green walnuts, don a pair of washing-up gloves – Marigolds work a treat – and quarter them lengthwise with a very sharp knife. Plop the quarters into a 2-litre clip-top jar along with a cinnamon stick, half of a nutmeg that has been scraped a little with a rasp, the grated zest of a whole lemon, three whole cloves, and 10 espresso coffee beans. Pour a litre of vodka or grappa over the contents and steep for four to six weeks. Sweeten with either simple syrup or a 1:1 syrup of dark muscovado to taste. We prefer ours a little less sweet and a lot more spicy and nutty.

By contrast, our take on Frangelico gathers its nuttiness by steeping 225g of shelled, unskinned, roughly chopped hazel or cobnuts with a litre of a 1:1 blend of vodka and cognac in a 2-litre clip-top jar. Add a split vanilla bean for a touch of decadence and steep for four to six weeks. Strain and sweeten with either simple or muscovado syrup to taste.

These recipes will give you healthy practise before we hit the late harvest and prepping for some winter-time treats.