Winter Wassail
From What’s in Season?
Winter Wassail
Description
This spicy wassail is a great way to highlight the fresh winter citrus and apples from your farmers’ market. When we asked our friends at Wine on Piedmont for their recommendation on a spirit to spike it up with, their enthusiastic reply was Home Base Bourbon Batch 22. Click here to read about that woman-made-in Berkeley spirit and several more intriguing suggestions.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 Granny Smith apples
- 12 to 15 whole cloves
- 8 cups apple cider
- 2 cups fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1/4 teaspoon each ginger and nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- Brandy, whiskey, or dark rum (optional)
- Garnishes: fresh cranberries, orange slices, apple slices
Instructions
Poke cloves into the apples on all sides. Place in a large pot with all other ingredients except the alcohol and garnishes. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 35 to 45 minutes. Add a shot of alcohol to a mug (if desired) and ladle the wassail over the top. Garnish and enjoy!
