Mulled Wine
05 November 2025
Mulled Wine is a warm, spicy, cold weather drink that pairs well with hearty stews, charcuterie, and sweets. It's a popular holiday drink across many cultures, with recipes dating back to the Roman Empire. It is Glühwein in Germany, Glögg, gløgg, glögi or similar in Nordic countries and Estonia - sometimes spelled glog or glug.
This recipe is savory and sweet, and the perfect alternative for dessert - or as an aperitif.
Total time -
About 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS -
Four servings -
750 ml bottle of Merlot
5 ounces Grand Marnier
4 ounces dark brown sugar
3 large oranges
6 whole cloves
6 Allspice berries
6 cinnamon sticks
TOOLS -
Medium saucepan
Heat resistant cups
PREPARATION -
cut the peels of two oranges into strips
juice the unpeeled oranges
set Grand Marnier aside - add juice, orange peels, two cinnamon sticks, and remaining ingredients into a sauce pan
simmer on low heat for about thirty minutes without boiling
turn off heat, add Grand Marnier, and allow to stand covered for at least 10 minutes
strain into heat resistant cups, or ladle if you don’t mind a few orange rinds for a more rustic version
garnish with cinnamon sticks and orange slices
NOTES -
Grand Marnier is an amber-colored, cognac based liqueur with complex notes of vanilla and oak. Cognac, Brandy, or a triple sec like Cointreau are great substitutes. Honey can be used in place of dark brown sugar, or omitted if you prefer a less sweet concoction.
Candle pairing: Bursera
