A winter cocktail sure to warm you from your head to your toes. Red wine is warmed with spices and citrus, then amped up with a bit of brandy for the coziest holiday drink.
Yield: 4servings
Ingredients
1eachmedium organic orange
20eachwhole clovesgive or take a few cloves - no need to be exact
750mllight red wine1 bottle, on the drier/lighter side is better. We love Pinot Noir, Lemburger or Merlot can also work
3each(3-inch) cinnamon sticks
5eachstrips lemon peelabout 2 inches long each, just use a carrot peeler and try to avoid including too much pith
1/4cupsugarstart with 1/4 cup and add to taste up to 2/3 cup
1/3cupbrandy
Optional garnish
Cinnamon sticks
Orange slices
Instructions
Using a toothpick, poke 20 holes all over your orange, then poke the cloves into the holes.
Add orange to a medium saucepan. Pour the wine into the pan. Add the cinnamon sticks, lemon peel, and 1/3 cup sugar. Stir gently to help dissolve the sugar.
Turn the heat on medium-low and heat until just below a simmer. Do not boil! Reduce heat to low - just enough to keep warm but again, not simmering or boiling. Cover and let warm over the heat for about 20 minutes, until hot wine is flavored by the spices.
Stir in the brandy. Taste and add more sugar if desired. Depending on your wine and tastes, you may only need the intial 1/4 cup of sugar, or you may need the entire 2/3 cup.
Ladle into three large or four smaller mugs, garnish if desired, pass 'em out and and inhale your Glühwein goodness.