As Christmas Day gets closer, we’re making drinks that will warm us up and get us in the mood for the holiday season. Our new favorite winter cocktail is a traditional Scandinavian drink called glogg. The word glogg literally means warming or glowing and this drink is sure to make your cheeks glows. Make a batch of glogg tonight or save it for Christmas Eve.
1 cup Aquavit (brandy or vodka can be used instead)
2 cups burgundy wine
2 cups port wine
Raisins
½ cup white sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
6 cardamom seeds
1 orange
1 piece of ginger
Blanched almonds
Soak raisins in one cup of aquavit. Soak for 30 minutes. Put a large pot on the stove, over high heat. Add one cup of water and sugar to the pot, and stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Lower the heat to medium and add your spices – two sticks of cinnamon, whole cloves, cardamom seeds (crushed), a thinly shaved orange peel and one small piece of ginger (peeled and cut). Stir. Do not allow the mix to come to a boil from this point on. Add the aquavit-raisin mixture, two cups of burgundy or Pinot Noir and two cups of port wine.
Strain, garnish with raisins and slices of blanched almonds — and serve hot off the stove.