This weekend, #ELLEmakes… you merry.
Mulled wine might just be the perfect marriage of steamy booze and spices – fab for a night in, a day out, or any time the weather is damp and dreary (which is most of the winter in London, lucky for us). The best part? You can use cheap wine in the mix and your friends will never know.
Here's how:
1. Create a syrup over low heat in the bottom of a saucepan with the juice of one orange and two tablespoons of brown sugar. 2. Pour a 750ml bottle of red wine into the pan and top it with a half-cup of brandy. Stir it all together. 3. Float a cinnamon stick, two star anise pods and a quartered orange studded with whole cloves. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce it to low and let simmer for about 15 minutes before serving.
Now, go on and full up a mug, garnish with a cinnamon stick and sip or, even better, pour some into your flasks and head to the Christmas markets. Mulled wine: guaranteed to take the edge off the holidays. Sweet.
