Spice Mulled Wine
This is a must-make Winter beverage, especially popular during the holiday season. It's old-fashioned and pretty simple to make at home. It uses red wine, and the amount of spices and sweetness can be adjusted to your liking.
Servings 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine such as Malbec or Merlot
- 1 orange sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 3 star anise
- ¼ cup white or brown sugar or a mix of both
- ¼ cup brandy optional
- cinnamon sticks and orange slices to serve
Instructions
- In a pot, combine 1 bottle red wine, 1 orange, sliced, 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 whole cloves and 3 star anise. Heat over low-medium heat until warm, about 10 minutes; do not boil.
- Stir in ¼ cup white or brown sugar and ¼ cup brandy if using. Let simmer slowly for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The key is to let it barely simmer, NOT boil.
- Taste, adjusting sweetness as needed and letting it simmer for another 5 minutes if you make changes.
- Strain and serve warm in mugs or glass or punch cups with cinnamon sticks and orange slices. I add rosemary sprigs for color, but they're not part of the recipe.
Notes
Refrigerate leftovers as soon as they cool down. It lasts up to 3 days. I favor a glass jar, as it's cleaner and keeps the flavors fresher.
Freezing: If you have a large amount that you won't be able to drink within a few days, you can freeze it. Pour it into ice cube trays or a freezer-safe container. It can be stored for up to 3 months.
Use honey or maple syrup instead of sugar. Start with a small amount, stir well, taste and adjust.
The brandy can be omitted and is not found in all traditional recipes, but I like it.
Optional add-ins: a few slices of fresh ginger, ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 2-3 cardamom pods (lightly crushed), 1 apple (cored and sliced).
