A warm cup of cheer for a cold day
By from December 18, 2005
You might think that a cocktail lover like me would find winter drinks depressing. It's true, most mixed drinks are chilled, but I look forward all summer long to some of my favorite warm winter drinks. Here are a few to keep you company on this snowy day.
Grog
This is how pirates keep away from the scurvy, yarr.
Add the following to a mug:
1 1/2 oz dark rum
1-3 Tb honey (to taste)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Top off with boiling water. Mix in mug and stir.
Variation: add some finely grated ginger root for a delicious ginger-lemon treat.
Hot buttered cider
Hot buttered rum is usually made with water, but I like it with cider. You can make spiced butter and buy plain cider, but it's easier to just buy spiced cider from the start.
Add to mug:
1-2 oz dark rum (depending on how strong you like it)
pat of butter
Brown sugar to taste
Top off with hot spiced apple cider to taste.
Mulled Wine
Also known as 'vin chaud' or Glühwein, this is a great way to make a mediocre bottle of wine delicious, and a good bottle even better. Great for holiday parties!
2 cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves
5 whole black peppercorns
1/2 tsp allspice berries
1 bottle red wine
2 strips orange zest (remove white pith)
1/4 C granulated sugar
1 Tb granulated sugar
1 - 2 Tb brandy
1. Toast spices in medium saucepan over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add wine, orange zest, and sugar; cover partially and bring to simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour until wine is infused; do not boil.
2. Strain wine and return to saucepan. Stir brandy into wine; taste and adjust sugar and brandy to taste. Serve immediately in mugs.
CHEERS!
<< | Posted on December 18, 2005 at 8:15 PM | >>
Heh, I mis-read that at first and thought you said that you could get "vin chaud bars," which sounds pretty gross.
And you're right, coffee drinks and hot chocolate drinks are another category...maybe I'll do a follow-up post.
Posted by freddy @ December 19, 2005 8:26 AM
I didn't know that was the recipe for grog; I just called it my cure for a winter cold.
Posted by Momcat @ December 19, 2005 3:18 PM
My family fave is Hot Apple Cider with Apple Brandy, preferally Apple Jack. Simmer cider with orange and lemon rinds, spike it, drink. Mmmm!
Posted by sarah @ December 19, 2005 7:49 PM
Oooh, Mike pointed out this cool thing: Feuerzangenbowle!
I had heard of it in Germany but I forgot about it. It is "basically two bottles of red wine with oranges, lemons, cloves, and cinnamon. The thing on top is a sugar cone, which you douse with rum and light on fire. As it burns, the sugar carmelizes and little chunks start to drop off into the wine, sweetening it."
We should make it sometime! If we can find a sugar cone.
Posted by freddy @ December 20, 2005 4:54 PM
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You can get vin chaud in the bars here in winter. It is SO AWESOME. They use some kind of really mild wine and lots of sugar. Mmm. And don't forget about coffee and Bailey's!
Posted by Shoshanna @ December 19, 2005 2:45 AM