Mulled wine is an alcoholic drink that can warm you in cold weather and even cure colds. There are many ways to make this hot cocktail, but the classic recipe is the most popular.
How to make classic mulled wine
Mulled wine has been known to mankind for a long time. Back in the 13th century, people came up with the idea of warming up wine with spices and using the drink as a remedy for colds. At first, the recipe for making mulled wine was not particularly difficult, but a little later a drink with the addition of citrus fruits, fruit juices and other components began to be popular.
Despite the fact that many people like the taste of mulled wine with added fruit, the classic recipe for making a hot drink does not lose its relevance. It is quite simple, and the products that make up it are generally available.
In order to prepare mulled wine according to the classic recipe, it is necessary to prepare in advance a bottle of red table wine, a tablespoon of sugar, six cloves, a cinnamon stick, nutmeg, and a third of a glass of water. The water should be boiled in a Turk or a saucepan, after adding spices and sugar to it. The mixture should be infused for 10-15 minutes.
The wine must be heated to a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, then mixed with water and spices. Heating to a higher temperature is not allowed, as this can lead to evaporation of alcohol and loss of taste of hot wine. Remove the drink from the stove when the white foam disappears from its surface.
Ready mulled wine can be poured into glasses, garnished with a lemon wedge or a cinnamon stick and served immediately. Preference should be given to special heat-resistant glasses designed specifically for this drink.
Secrets of making mulled wine
In order for mulled wine to turn out not only tasty, but also to have an attractive appearance, you need to use not ground spices for its preparation, but whole ones. This is especially true for ingredients like cinnamon. The addition of ground spice makes the drink cloudy.
If desired, you can add honey, apples, oranges, lemon zest to mulled wine. At the same time, it is very important not to overdo it with their number. Otherwise, the taste of the drink will change dramatically and will resemble compote.
In order for the mulled wine to turn out to be truly tasty, you need to use wine with a strength of 7-10% for its preparation. Table wines are ideal for these purposes.
To give the drink a peculiar taste and aroma, you can add a few leaves of mint or lemon balm to the drink. These aromatic herbs will not only give the mulled wine a fresh flavor, but will also remind you of summer and sunny days.
