Wassail
MADE WITH Black Oak Nut Brown Ale (6 x 341 ml, $12.95), Tio Pepe Extra Dry Sherry (750 ml, $14.90)
HOT STUFF/HOT GOSSIP Wassail seems to have been an olde-tyme lifestyle choice that included, but was not limited to, a song, a toast, a get-together and a hot drink, all usually associated with Christmas. No matter what, it’s a party, so here’s a recipe for a crowd.
RECIPE
6 x 341ml bottles of ale
12 small apples
3 whole cloves
3 whole allspice berries
3 broken cardamom pods
1 broken cinnamon stick
1 tsp powdered ginger
1 tsp powdered nutmeg
1½ cups sugar
750 ml dry sherry
Peel, core and bake the apples at 350°F for 20 minutes. Simmer spices in one cup of beer for 10 minutes and strain into larger pot with sherry, sugar and remainder of beer. Add more sugar if required. Heat well. Serve from a heatproof bowl, like punch, after adding roasted apples.
Mulled Wine
MADE WITH Bosco Eclipse Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (750 ml, $7.60)
HOT STUFF/HOT GOSSIP With all the flavouring and heating, mulled wine doesn’t require expensive vino. A little winey fruit, a little winey zip heat ‘er up and you’re good to glow. You’ll need a heatproof bowl or pitcher for this group chug.
RECIPE
1¼ cup sugar
½ cup water
24 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
1 crushed whole nutmeg
peel of 2 lemons and 1 orange
2 cups lime or lemon juice
2 bottles of red wine.
Boil sugar, water, spices and peel for five minutes. (Be very careful: contact with hot syrup will cause a painful burn.) Strain syrup and add to wine and citrus juice. Heat well and serve with slices of lemon, orange and pineapple.
Tom and Jerry
MADE WITH Appleton X/V Rum (750 ml, $26.40) and St. Remy Brandy (750 ml, $23.95)
HOT STUFF/HOT GOSSIP The Drink Up Research Laboratory has confirmed the smooth, delicious, cockle-warming properties of this hot shot, named after the 19th century godfather of the cocktail, Jerry Thomas.
RECIPE FOR ONE SERVING
Beat 1 egg yolk and 1 egg white separately. Combine and beat with 1 tsp sugar. Combine 2 tbsp of egg mixture with 1 oz rum and 1 oz brandy into large mug, stirring vigorously. Top with boiling water or milk. Stir until smooth. Dust with ground nutmeg.