Vin Brulé (Italian Mulled Wine), a Festive Drink
Vin Brulé (Italian Mulled Wine), a Festive Drink
Warming, aromatic beverage that’s lovely to sip on cold winter days. It’s great for a holiday party and ladle mugfuls of it out as guests arrive
Ingredients
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1/3 cup sugar or honey
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2 tablespoons orange zest
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4 tablespoons orange juice (juice of 1 orange–use a vegetable peeler to create the strips of zest, being careful to make them thin and avoiding the bitter white pith)
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1 tablespoon lemon zest (zest of 1 lemon; same method as for the orange)
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2 cinnamon sticks
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4 whole cloves
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1 pinch nutmeg (freshly grated)
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1 bottle of full-bodied red wine
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1/4-inch ginger (fresh, peeled and bruised )
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1 whole star anise
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1/2 vanilla pod
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10 whole allspice berries
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5 whole black peppercorns
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1 to 2 bay leaves
Steps to Make It
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In a heavy pot mix the sugar or honey, citrus zest, orange juice, and spices.
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Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until the sugar or honey is dissolved and an aromatic syrup has formed about 4 to 5 minutes. Then lower the heat to low and add the wine. Bring to just a bare simmer and continue over low heat for about 15 minutes or until wine is flavorful. Be careful not to let the wine boil, which adversely affects the flavor.
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Ladle through a fine-mesh strainer into mugs or heat-resistant glasses to serve. You can garnish each mug with an orange slice or stick of cinnamon if desired. Serve steaming hot.