Ingredients:
750 ml of red wine
2 cups apple cider
¼ cup brandy
¼ cup honey
2 oranges
5 whole cloves
4 green cardamom pods
1 whole star anise
Cinnamon sticks
Directions:
Take one orange and zest as well as juice it, then set aside. It will be used in the wine mixture. Take the remaining orange and slice it into wheels or thin wedges, this will be used to garnish the cocktail.
Place a large pot or Dutch oven over a low heat setting. Add the wine, apple cider, honey, orange zest as well as orange juice. Stir until everything is combined.
Add the cloves, star anise, cardamom pods, and a couple of cinnamon sticks.
Bring the heat up to medium and bring the wine mixture to a simmer. Once it reaches a simmer, reduce the heat back to low and let it simmer for about 25-30 minutes. Make sure the wine mixture does not come to a boil.
Once ready, stir in the brandy.
Ladle into mugs or your heat-resistant glass of choice. Add a cinnamon stick and a couple of slices of orange for garnish.
Notes:
The red wine you use does not have to be expensive, just pick something that you like. It can be something fruity or dry depending on your taste. Some common choices for a recipe like this are Merlot, Malbec, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, or Syrah.
Do not use powdered spices. You want to infuse the wine without having any debris floating around on or collecting at the top.
Make sure the wine mixture does not come to a boil or else the alcohol will cook off. Keep an eye on it and ensure that it only comes to a simmer.
If you are cooking a large batch then just double the recipe.
You may store your mulled wine for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. When you are ready to reheat it, place it in a pot on a stove over low heat to gently warm it up.
You may use other fruits to make different variations of mulled wine. Some popular choices are apples, pomegranates, cranberries, and clementines.
If you do not have brandy then you may also use rum.
