Whether for holiday festivities or a simple winter gathering, mulled wine is a classic. With the comfort of cinnamon, the sweetness of honey, and the punch red wine, it covers all the bases.
We tend to lean away from sweeter beverages, so this recipe plays more on the wine than it does the sugar. Since the final flavour will heavily depend on the wine that you choose, I highly recommend using a bottle that you’d drink on its own. Whether you enjoy a sweet or dry red, the final product will reflect your taste if you choose accordingly. That being said, since you’ll be altering the flavour and adding a few dashes of honey, you definitely don’t need to go for anything “high-end”. In my experience, a $12 bottle of my preferred grape (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Malbec) will do just fine. And if you’re making it for a crowd, there’s plenty of satisfactory boxed wines to choose from.
Finally, mulled wine is a very flexible concept. Add and remove spices to suit your taste, and don’t be afraid to alter to sweetness to your likings.
Happy mulling!
Mulled Wine
Ingredients
- 1 Bottle Cabernet Sauvignon, or preferred red
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 2 Star Anise
- 4 Whole Cloves
- 1 tsp Whole Allspice
- 1 tsp Whole Dried Juniper Berries, optional
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- 2 Mandarin Oranges, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
- Extra mulling ingredients for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Place a pot over medium heat and add the wine and the mulling spices. Once the wine is warm, stir in the honey and add the orange slices.
- Bring mixture to a light simmer, but be very careful not to boil. If the wine boils to vigorously, the alcohol will cook off. Cover and allow to simmer for 15-30 minutes.
- Serve hot with an orange slice and preferred spice, like star anise or a cinnamon stick, as garnish.
- Enjoy!
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