Mulled Wine

To mull wine for a large group, I needed a recipe for three liters (one box) of wine. The internet is a light drinker, with most recipes being for just a bottle of wine. I adapted mine from a one-bottle recipe at The Toasty Kitchen (because Peter requested triple sec), an appropriately-sized recipe from A Good Dish, plus a recipe for glüewein.

Ingredients are also listed for one bottle (750 ml).

Ingredients

One Box of Wine

Serves 24.

1 box (3 liters) of a cheap cabernet sauvingon
4–8 oz. (½ – 1 c.) triple sec, Cointreau, brandy, or Port
1 c. apple cider (or juice)
½ c. maple syrup (or honey)
6 cinnamon sticks
12 whole cloves
3 star anise
8 whole allspice
8 cardamom pods
at least 3 slices fresh ginger
2 oranges or limes, sectioned (with peel)

One Bottle of Wine

Serves 6.

1 bottle (750 ml) of a cheap cabernet sauvingon
1–2 oz. (⅛ – ¼ c.) triple sec, Cointreau, brandy, or Port
1 c. apple cider (or juice)
2 T. maple syrup (or honey)
2 cinnamon sticks
2 whole cloves
1 star anise
2 whole allspice
1 cardamom pods
sliced fresh ginger to taste
1 orange or lime, sectioned (with peel)

Directions

Simmer most ingredients one hour (bottle) or longer (boxes) in a crockpot, or 15 minutes (bottle) or until heated through on medium heat on a stovetop, being careful not to boil.
Add triple sec (or other liqueur) just before serving. (Or let guests add it to taste.)
Preferably, serve through a strainer.
After the first round, remove any citrus.
Hold on low or warm (crockpot), or over a low flame.

Variants

Some people use zinfandel, tempranillo, burgundy, shiraz, a red blend, and/or moderately good wines. Nothing truly stunning, though.

Zest & squeeze one of the oranges.

Use apple or orange juice for the non-alcohol.

You can substitute candied ginger for fresh.

Add a vanilla bean.

Brazilian style mulled wine doesn’t seem much different from domestic mulling, though they take the less common sugar-water approach to the extra liquid.