Mulled wine

I noticed in the drinks aisle in Tesco yesterday they are selling little bags of ingredients to make mulled wine containing spices, slices of dried orange etc.

I’d rather have a nip of whisky in hot lemonade and cloves.

I dislike any type of hot alcohol, even (or maybe especially) the smell is horrible.
Which is a shame because I really like the idea of mulled wine.

I dont like mulled wine but DH loves it. He says the bottled ones are awful (wine snob) but I think its smells like Benylin. I think if you like it its better to make it from the spices you like.

Saw on the 'how to spend well at christmas' show last night phillip schofield was testing some out! Some not so good & the best a bit pricey for mulled wine- but best was the one homemade by the chef! I would give it a go but his recipe included cranberries, which i cant have as im on warfarin- but any other mulled wine recipes (without cranberry) will be much welcome.Thanks all??

Definitely make my own. The trick is to use clementine juice instead of orange juice, and make sure there’s a healthy dollop of brown sugar in there!

Its a shame they only tested 3 bottles& then the home- made one.(tesco own was rubbish apparently) maybe the little 'mulled bags' would be ok though?

AmberSpyglass

Definitely make my own. The trick is to use clementine juice instead of orange juice, and make sure there’s a healthy dollop of brown sugar in there!

Ooh, I like the sound of that! Thank you for sharing!

Adding a dash of rum enhances the flavour too.

Yes fresh orange juice.... make syrup with spices (whole cloves, stick of cinnamon) and infuse flavours for a bit. Add wine and orange later. Alcohol can be evaporated if allowed to simmer (or not!). Float a few thin slices of orange at end. I use a slow cooker to keep at gentle heat and nice to serve from. I have a set of mini glass mugs to go with. I am thinking of having a flask of same if any park meet ups over christmas!

I've used the sachets of spice before, but yesterday I made my own and it was delicious ...

1 bottle of wine
1 whole orange, peeled and sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
8 cloves
2 star anise
2-4 Tbs honey (depending on your sweetness preferance)

Bring to simmer (don't boil it!), cover with lid, and simmer for 30 mins - 3 hours.

The house smelt amazing!

Nansnet, that recipe sounds delicious but I doubt it would last 3 hours before we were drinking it! ??

I bought 2 bottles in M&S the other day, haven’t tried it yet - one was for a dd.

I’ve often made it, cheap red wine, a stick or 2 of cinnamon, a few slices of orange with cloves stuck in, sugar, water, and a good slug of brandy.
Will def. be making some to go with the Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve - plus mince pies, of course! Essential beginning of my Christmas.

We had a couple of friends over last night. Obviously we were following the rules for social distancing and we spent our time in garden in front of the chimenea plus a fire pit blazing away. Due to the fact that they were driving I made mulled apple juice. Lovely and warming.
I used 2L of 100% pressed juice, sliced half an orange and half a lemon, 5 cinnamon sticks and a heaped teaspoon of mixed spice as I didn't have any cloves. Added a grating of nutmeg and put the lot in a slow cooker for 1.5 hours on high. When I took it outside I turned it down to low so it stayed hot through the night.
Didn't add any sugar.

Thanks for that non alcohol version fiorentina51. I will keep that for another year when family can visit. It will be something festive if they are driving.

We have mulled wine on bonfire night.

That apple juice sounds delish!
I could just fancy some now...

I got drawn in by the pretty label today. Going to open it in a bit.

Damson and elderberry incase the writing on the label is difficult to read.

I make mulled cider, I can’t drink wine. It’s delicious and a nice change. Got my recipe via Google!

I make mulled cider too as I don't like red wine. M&S used to do it, but seem to of stopped stocking it so I make my own now and add a little rum for that extra kick lol. It does warm your cockles.

Since going teetotal I make a jazzed up mulled cider. Kopparberg or Strongbow dark fruit AF cider one of those little mulled wine mix bags and one of the dried mix. All in the slow cooker. House smells gorgeous and even husband says it is very passable. Lovely with dark chocolate covered ginger Christmas cake/biscuits in all the shops now. Reminds me of my past Christmases in Bavaria!

I used to make gallons of the stuff for our community carol service and it's simple! Also used to do mulled apple juice too!
A bottle of cheap plonk is the best! Add brown sugar to taste, then sling in sliced orange, a cinnamon stick or two, a few star anise if you like it and any other spices you like then warm it through to blood heat and keep it at that temp if you can. Whatever you do, don't boil it or it not only gets rid of the alcohol, but will taste bitter.

Each year our tiny village has a Duck Race, where we throw yellow plastic Ducks into the stream - with prizes for the winners.

This is followed by Mulled Wine.... 8 bottles every year.... I buy Co Op Mulled wine which is pretty good.... adding clementines and star anise...

But here's the tip... I warm it in a saucepan then decant it into my slow cooker ... from which I serve it with a soup ladle.

Works brilliantly every year. Apart from this year of course... when we can't do it.

Merry Christmas everyone !

I make a type of German mulled wine called feuerzangenbowle which uses a special rack - like a miniature bath rack - to hold an old fashioned sugar cone over a bowl of spiced wine; the sugar is doused in high strength spirits (traditionally rum but I don't think it matters as long as it's strong enough) and then set alight to melt and drip into the bowl below. Delicious!!!

A friend made mulled wine, and gave me a small bottle.

I found it very rich and sweet, and drank it with lemonade to tone it down a little.