Glögg - Scandinavian Mulled Wine
Glögg (mulled wine) is one of the most delicious, warm, spiced drinks I have ever tasted! The aroma is one of the coziest smells one could have in their home during the holidays. This is Christmas in a cup, a wonderful drink to offer your guests during the cold weather months. Origin: Glögg (mulled wine) is a spiced red wine usually served hot in Scandinavian countries, especially during Christmas. This tradition dates back as early as the 1600s, during the Greek and Roman periods, as a way to preserve wine and make it bad wine drinkable. Mulled wine became more popular in the 1800s as wine merchants started to produce and market glögg.Image by Карина Панченко from Pixabay
Servings: 10 mugs
Equipment
- 1 Dutch Oven or Pot
- 1 Strainer
- 1 Peeler
- Mugs Clear mugs are preferred to showcase the gorgeous color but are not necessary.
Ingredients
- 1 Bottle of dry red wine Pinot noir or zinfandel
- 1 Bottle of port wine
- 1 + ½ cups Brandy You can also use rum, cognac, bourbon, or vodka.
- 10 tsp Golden raisins
- 10 Whole cloves
- 10 tsp Blanched almond slivers
- 1 Orange (using only the zest)
- 5 Slices of fresh peeled ginger
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 10 Cardamom pods
- 1 cup Sugar Add as needed after glögg has steeped for several hours.
Instructions
Serve with a spoon, allowing the guest to taste the yummy raisins & almonds at the bottom of the glass once they have finished their beverage.
- Add one bottle of dry red wine and one bottle of port wine using a Dutch oven.
- Add 2 cups of water.
- Peel the outside of the orange and add the zest.
- Add cardamom, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and cloves.
- Bring the wine mixture to a simmer, then cover and turn off the heat. Let the mix JUST come to a simmer. DO NOT ALLOW IT TO BOIL! Boiling or simmering the glögg will cause the alcohol to evaporate.
- Let glögg sit at room temperature for 2-4 hours. Let glögg sit at room temperature for 2-4 hours. Letting the wine and the spices steep for several hours improves the flavor; the wine takes on the flavor of the warm spices.
- After 2-4 hours, remove any foam from the top. Using a Strainer, strain spices, then reheat glögg. Add 1 + 1/2 cup of Rum and add sugar as necessary. Sugar is added based on taste.
- Glögg is now ready to be served! Clear mugs are the best used if you want to showcase the gorgeous red color. Add a pinch of raisins & almonds to the bottom of the mug, then add glögg.
- Serve with a spoon, allowing the guest to taste the yummy raisins & almonds at the bottom of the glass once they have finished their beverage. Enjoy!
Notes
Glögg - can be made without alcohol for all to enjoy.
The non-alcoholic version has a juice base. Using the exact measurements, substitute the alcohol with black currant, grape, berry, or a combination of grape/apple/pomegranate/pear.