A perfect drink for sipping in front of the Christmas Yule log in your fireplace, this Mulled Cider is a heated holiday version of my classic Apple Martini with the addition of the traditional fruits and spices of mulled cider.
It's a modern version of very old, traditional Wassail*, a beverage of hot mulled cider which evolved from a drink called 'lambswool' where roasted crab apples were dropped into warmed mead. Wassail, a spiced cider or wine, was traditionally drunk as an integral part of wassailing, a Medieval English drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest for the following year.
Wassail! Wassail!
All over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink unto thee.
This spiced apple cider classic is one of my most popular holiday cocktails, very nostalgic and comforting on cold nights and ideal for holiday entertaining.
MULLED APPLE
CIDER
(Serves 4)
INGREDIENTS
4 Oz. Dark Rum
2 Oz. Apple Pucker
8 Oz. Apple Cider
1 Tea Bag of Martinelli's Mulling Spices
1/2 Tsp. McCormick Orange Peel
1/2 Tsp. McCormick Lemon Peel
GARNISH PER DRINK: 1 Dried Apple Slice, 1 Dried Orange Slice, 1Cinnamon Stick
TOOLS: Saucepan, Ladle
GLASS: Tea Cups or Mugs
DIRECTIONS
Add the apple cider, mulling spice tea bag, lemon peel and orange peel to your saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and allow to cool while the flavors infuse through the cider.
At serving time add the rum and the Apple Pucker, bring the spiced cider back to a simmer.
Ladle into your serving vessels, garnish and enjoy.
You can also multiply the recipe and use a crock pot for larger gatherings. Place the cider, spice bags, lemon and orange peel in the crock pot and heat on low for 4 hours. Add the spirits just before serving.
Yes, you can leave out the booze for a non-alcoholic version.
"Old Apple tree, old apple tree;
We've come to wassail thee;
To bear and to bow apples enow;
Hats full, caps full, three bushel bags full;
Barn floors full and a little heap under the stairs."
* Old Norse "ves heil", Old English "was hál", which translates to "be you healthy"
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
