Hamper Filler - Muld wine

tim_n

This year I'm dipping into hampers for the family rather than individual little presents that will probably never get used.

One idea is muld wine. You will need:

Either:
Orange
Cloves
Lemons
cinamon sticks

Or

Muld wine 'pack' (teabag with spices in it)

And

Small bottle of cheap brandy
25cl bottles of red wine (£1.20 from Tesco - may be cheaper elsewhere).
A funnel & saucepan

Empty the bottles of wine into the sauce pan, add cheap brandy. If using raw ingredients halve the oranges and push the sharp ends of the cloves into the skin. Slice the lemon and add as well. Throw in cinamon sticks and a pinch of mixed spice if you have any (I think that's what I use, it's in an unmarked pot...)
Put a shot of brandy in for each 25cl bottle (a tad generous maybe, but it is xmas so add to taste) and gently warm. Do not boil and avoid the fumes ;- )

Soak the bottles to remove the labels, dry and add your own. You can also sterilise with sterilising solution but I try to keep them clean to start with.

When warmed through and the spice is taking effect let cool and funnel back into the bottles. If your bottles are corked (litterally, not 'off') you may need to borrow a corking machine, though most are sealed with the twist caps. To add a touch of class you can buy foils for the top which you can shrink wrap on with a hair drier on a low heat.

Wrap up in your hamper and tell them to drink it before going back to work ;- )

Frell

Thanks I might give that a go.

purpleimp

Sorry haven't got to grips with the quoting from another thread or linking but here's but this might be useful to you.

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Quote:(origional quote from me)
Gluwein (again either in single glass wine bottles if I can get enough or large bottles for giving to family units)
The recipe I use calls for chateaux de migraine chapest of the cheap and orange juice so with the cheap boxes of red for christmas it should work out really cheap, they'll have a tag on with heating instructions. I'll post recipes for any thing I mention if folk want them,



Please be really careful about doing the mulled wine. Basically you are diluting the nice "safe" wine with orange juice which goes off.
If the product is not sterile then you could actually serious hurt (poison) people. Make sure you use a recipe which is meant to be stored for a few months and then it will be OK.

I have the advantage of working for a food company so I always get stuff analysed before sending it to friends. I know most people can't do that, but if you stick to recipes which are designed to be stored then you should be fine.
Sorry - don't want to put a dampener on it.

I'm making hampers this year too. Lots of Plum jam and elderberry cordial!!

Vikki


After that I've decided my gluwein will be given in bits for the recipient to mull themselves, I don't want to take any chances!!, hope this is some help to you

ashli_2

Not sure about storing it as mine always tends to get drunk straight away. :rotfl:

But you want to put your brandy in at the end otherwise the alcohol will evaporate. And we don't want that now, do we?