Winter Wassail is a traditional British recipe for a classic Yuletide drink if mulled cider that's traditionally served warm. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic British version of: Winter Wassail.
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Wassail comes from the Anglo-Saxon toast 'waes hael': literally, 'be whole', but actually meaning something more like 'your health'. The first carols were Yuletide drinking songs and singers carolled their neighbourhoods carrying their wassail bowls with them.
Traditionally it was made from cider and had small, sour apples, in the mix. This version can be made either alcoholic or non alcoholic and it works just as well either way.
Ingredients:
4.5l cider (or fresh apple juice for a non-alcoholic version)
1 tbsp whole cloves
1 tbsp allspice berries
4 cinnamon sticks
1 star anise
4 blades of mace
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 nutmeg, halved
1/4 tsp sea salt
200g dark brown sugar
500ml (1 pint) gin or vodka (omit for a non-alcoholic version)
2 lemons, thinly sliced (remove the pips)
3 oranges, sliced thinly (remove the pips)
2 limes, sliced thinly
Method:
Combine the cider and the spices in a large pot. Season with the salt, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes to allow the spice flavours to infuse.
Take off the stove and sweeten to taste with sugar. Set aside to cool completely. Once cold, strain through a fine-meshed sieve lined with a layer of muslin (cheesecloth).
Set aside in a cool place until ready (you do not need to refrigerate).
To serve, heat the wassail in a bain-marie (double boiler) over a large pot of boiling water. Add the citrus slices and continue heating until warm.
Add the gin or vodka (if using) and allow to warm up again (but do not over heat). Turn into a wassail bowl (a soup tureen, large china bowl or punch bowl work well).
Serve ladled into small punch glasses. If desired you can float chunks of tart apple in the wassail, to give it an effect similar to the original drink.
