A Tea Cocktail to Toast to the Season 4 Premiere of Downton Abbey

The Earl of Grey-tham

Adapted from The Grey Lady [1] by Greg Lindgren of Rye

For Earl Grey simple syrup:
1/2 cup water
1 Earl Grey tea bag
1/2 cup granulated sugar

For cocktail:
Ice
1 3/4 ounces London dry gin
3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed 
1 ounce Earl Grey tea simple syrup
Orange peel, for garnish

To make Earl Grey simple syrup: In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil over high heat. Cover with a lid to prevent evaporation. Once water reaches a boil, turn off heat and add tea bag. Steep for 4 minutes. Add sugar, and turn on heat once again. Stir occasionally, and cook until sugar melts completely. Remove from heat, and set to cool. Once cool, remove tea bag.
To make cocktail: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add gin, lemon juice, and Earl Grey syrup. Shake vigorously for 10 to 20 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange peel.