Christmas Mulled Wine

 
Christmas Mulled Wine (The Hengs' Edition) 

My Christmas Mulled Wine recipe is adapted from Jamie Oliver's recipe, especially from Recipe #1 below. I like it with more citrus flavour (not so strong alcohol and not so strong). I tend to add in more cloves, cinnamon sticks,  bay leaves. Try not use powder form of spices as they may not dissolve well. The extra may be chilled or use for second round top up. You may make cocktail by pouring some 7-Up or Sprite to a glass of chilled mulled wine, you get a sparkling cocktail. As for the remnants of this mulled wine, I have not tried it but may be it can be used to marinate some meat with Christmas theme?

Ingredients
2 Limes 
2 Lemons
2 Oranges (mandarin oranges (clementines) are preferred) 
200 g caster sugar (may reduce if using less than 2 bottles of wine)
8 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
6 dried bay leaves 
1 whole nutmeg , for grating - optional
1 vanilla pod - optional
2 bottles Chianti or other Italian red wine (not to use too expensive wine or too cheap either)
2 star anise - to add in last with the rest of wine

Method

1. Peel large sections of peel from the lime, clementines, lemon and oranges using a speed-peeler.
2. Put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the pieces of peel and squeeze in the clementine juice.
3. Add the cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and about 10 to 12 gratings of nutmeg. Halve the vanilla pod lengthways and add to the pan, then stir in just enough red wine to cover the sugar.
4. Let this simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine, then bring to the boil. Keep on a rolling boil for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until you get a beautiful thick syrup. The process is to create a wonderful flavour base by really getting the sugar and spices to infuse and blend well with the wine. It’s important to make a syrup base first because it needs to be quite hot, and if you do this with both bottles of wine in there you’ll burn off the alcohol.
5. When your syrup is ready, turn the heat down to low and add your star anise and the rest of the wine. Gently heat the wine and after around 5 minutes, when it’s warm and delicious, ladle it into heatproof glasses and serve. Do not bring the mulled wine to a boil, that will waste all the nice alcohol of the red wine.
6. Optional for stronger kick, may add rum. 

Jamie Oliver Mulled Wine #1 
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/jamie-s-mulled-wine/

Ingredients
2 clementines
1 lemon
1 lime
200 g caster sugar
6 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
3 fresh bay leaves
1 whole nutmeg , for grating
1 vanilla pod
2 bottles Chianti or other Italian red wine
2 star anise

Method

1. Peel large sections of peel from the clementines, lemon and lime using a speed-peeler.
2. Put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the pieces of peel and squeeze in the clementine juice.
3. Add the cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and about 10 to 12 gratings of nutmeg. Halve the vanilla pod lengthways and add to the pan, then stir in just enough red wine to cover the sugar.
4. Let this simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine, then bring to the boil. Keep on a rolling boil for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until you’ve got a beautiful thick syrup. The reason I’m doing this first is to create a wonderful flavour base by really getting the sugar and spices to infuse and blend well with the wine. It’s important to make a syrup base first because it needs to be quite hot, and if you do this with both bottles of wine in there you’ll burn off the alcohol.
5. When your syrup is ready, turn the heat down to low and add your star anise and the rest of the wine. Gently heat the wine and after around 5 minutes, when it’s warm and delicious, ladle it into heatproof glasses and serve.

Jamie Oliver Mulled Wine #2
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/drink-recipes/mulled-wine/

Ingredients
200 g caster sugar
6 cloves
3 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
2 oranges
1 lemon
2 x 750 ml bottles of red wine
100 ml crème de cassis
1 whole nutmeg , for grating

Method

1. Place the sugar and all of the spices (except the nutmeg) into a large, heavy-bottomed pan.
2. Add the bay leaves and use a speed peeler to pare the zest of the lemon and oranges. Add to the pan, slice the oranges in half and squeeze in the juice.
3. Pour in just enough of the wine to cover all the ingredients. Place the pan over a medium heat, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, or until all of the sugar is dissolved and you have a lovely fragrant syrup.
4. Add the rest of the wine and the crème de cassis, then gently heat for 10 minutes, until warm and fragrant. Be careful not to let the mixture boil. Serve hot, with fresh nutmeg grated on top, and mince pies.

Glühwein - German "Glow-Wine" 
https://www.yammiesnoshery.com/2016/12/gluhwein-german-mulled-wine.html

Ingredients - Makes 6 glasses

1/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup orange juice (two oranges)
1 orange cut into slices 
3 star anise 
3 cinnamon sticks
5 cardamom pods 
6 cloves
750ml bottle of dry red wine (pinot noir and merlot are good choices)
Shot of Rum (optional goodies)

A few cranberries and orange peel for garnish (optional)
Optional to Add In :-

• Vanilla seeds
• Fresh ginger
• Nutmeg
• Fennel 

Optional Sweeteners to replace the sugar

• Honey
• Orange marmelade or other jam
• Demerara sugar

Method :

1. Place the spices orange juice, and sugar in a pot. Simmer for at least 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and the flavor of the spices is released. Add a few tablespoons of water if it starts bubbling up and thickening. 
2. Reduce heat to low and add the wine and orange slices and cover. Simmer on low until hot. Do not boil it or the alcohol will evaporate. You can keep the pot on the stove covered as you drink it. If it seems to be losing alcohol content, add a little more fresh wine to the pot. 
3. Use mugs, not wine glasses.
4. You can also mix the wine with the spiced syrup and then strain it back into the bottle and heat up a glass at your convenience. 
5. To make the curly orange peels, peel an orange with a peeler, then slice the peels into strips and curl them with your fingers. 

Mulled Wine (Apple Cider)

https://www.wellplated.com/spiced-wine/

Ingredients

750 ml dry, fruity red wine 1 bottle — Merlot, Zinfandel, or Cabernet Sauvignon all work well

2 cups apple cider

¼ cup honey

1 orange zested and juiced

5 whole cloves

4 green cardamom pods

2 cinnamon sticks

1 whole star anise

¼ cup brandy

Orange slices for garnish

Cinnamon sticks for garnish

Methods :-

1. Add wine, cider, honey, orange zest and orange juice to a Dutch oven or similar large pot and stir to combine.
2. Add the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
3. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer gently for 30 minutes; do not let the wine boil.
4. Stir in the brandy. To serve, ladle into mugs and garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon sticks.