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While most of the “holidays” are now in our rearview mirror, there’s one major event still on the horizon and it’s likely also the biggest drinking day (and night) of the year. Rivaling Super Bowl Sunday, Cinco de Mayo, and St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s Eve is a night known as much for its celebratory nature as its boozy atmosphere. From early evening beers, a potent alcohol-filled punch, and a few gulps of sparkling wine as the ball drops, the evening is pretty much drenched in alcohol.
This year, before you drink Champagne (and likely a mixture of other forms of alcohol that will leave you with a monster of a New Year’s Day hangover), why not warm up with spicy, sweet, delicious, mulled wine?
Making mulled wine might seem like a laborious task, but it’s a lot easier than it seems. With our help, you can wow your fellow guests at a New Year’s Eve party (or your family if you’re making the decision to stay at home this year). Keep reading to see some tips guaranteed to crank your mulled wine game up to eleven.
Mulled Wine NYE
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Pick the right wine.
Picking the right wine is extremely important. Your mulled wine would taste pretty funky if you used anything besides red wine. We suggest using a merlot, but a zinfandel also works well. You’re looking for a rich, bold wine loaded with ripe fruit flavors that will pair well with spices.
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Make time for wine.
The whole process will take some time. You’re not going to pour a bunch of spices into a mug, fill it the rest of the way with red wine, and zap it in the microwave. Not only will it taste awful, but it might explode in your microwave, staining it to look like a crime scene.
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Pick the right booze.
The name “mulled wine” is a bit misleading. This is a potent, boozy, warming punch-like drink. It’s a lot more than a spiced wine. One of the main ingredients is alcohol. We prefer a nice brandy. But cognac, Grand Marnier, your favorite whisk(e)y, or even vodka (in a pinch) will do. Stay away from spirits with strong flavors. Avoid gin at all costs unless you want a juniper-filled nightmare drink.
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Prepare the ingredients.
So, you have your wine picked out and your spirit, now it’s time to pick the rest of your ingredients. We’re talking cinnamon sticks, cardamom, cloves, orange slices, apples, lemon, ginger, and pretty much any wintry spices you enjoy. Just don’t get too crazy with mixing and matching. Complimentary flavors are the key to flavorful mulled wine.
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Make the mulled wine.
To make our extra boozy mulled wine, we add about a liter of red wine, four cinnamon sticks, a few orange slices, four cloves, and 1 teaspoon of ground ginger to a pot and simmer it on the stove for 20 minutes to a half hour. When all the flavors seem to be melded together, add 1 to 2 cups of cognac or brandy (depending on how boozy you like it) and let it simmer for a few more minutes.
Ingredients:
1 liter of fruity red wine
4 cinnamon sticks
4 cloves
1 teaspoon of ground ginger
Orange slices
1 to 2 cups of cognac, brandy, or whiskey
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Drink it while it’s hot.
Spoon it into your favorite mug and drink it while its good and hot. It’s warming from the heat of the drink itself and the booze. Drink it slowly and pace yourself. Otherwise, you’ll be passed out under the Christmas tree way before the ball drops on the New Year.
