Best-ever mulled wine

Eat, drink and be merry with the Bikers' winter warmer.

Mulled Wine

Info

Serves
12
Prep time
Less than 15 minutes
Cooking time
2 - 4 hours

Ingredients

  • 4 tangerines, clementines or satsumas
  • 1 vanilla pod, split lengthways
  • 8 allspice berries
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 3 star anise
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 300g caster sugar
  • 2 x 75cl bottles of red wine
  • 200ml brandy

Method

  1. Cut the tangerines into 4 or 5 thick slices and put them in a large saucepan. Add the vanilla pod, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, star anise and bay leaves. Stir in the sugar. Pour over the wine and brandy and place the pan over a low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer and bubble over a very low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  2. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside for 1–4 hours before serving to allow the flavours to blend. Heat through gently without boiling, then strain, leaving some of the larger spices for decoration, and ladle into heatproof cups.