People tend to regard mulled wine as an easy way to get rid of wine otherwise deemed undrinkable. I know this because I was one of those people. As it turns out, boiling red wine with powdered cinnamon, a cup of apple juice you stole from your niece, and whiskey because it was the only brown liquor in the joint, does not make mulled wine. It makes everyone mad you took two slightly undrinkable bottles of wine and turned them into an extremely undrinkable pot of hot booze.
Mulled wine when done (even kiiinda) correctly is delicious, and makes use out of red wines people bring to your house during the holidays that yeah, you might not want to drink. It is also the closest you can get to serving up literal glasses of holiday cheer. The key is not to assume you’re going to have everything you need spur of the moment. Here’s how to stay prepared to make last-minute mulled wine.
Keep whole cinnamon sticks and whole cloves in the cabinet. If you don’t already have these things, it is a $7 investment that is well worth it. The powdered ones that are on the complete collection spice rack your mom gave you as a housewarming present five years ago will not do. That sh*t is old and tastes like it.
Have spiced apple cider in the fridge. Some recipes may let regular apple juice slide, but you'd need to add so much extra spice to make up for it. Also, why is anyone drinking regular apple juice when this is the only time of year you can be drinking cider? Don’t play yourself.
Add a bottle of brandy or tawny Port to the bar cart. You can find options for both wine-based spirits for under $15 at your local wine shop or even Whole Foods. My vote is for the Port because I enjoy drinking it alone more than brandy in case you go through the next month without making any mulled wine and still want an option for nightcaps, but that’s just me. Technically, you don’t need brandy or port to make mulled wine in a pinch, but most recipes include it. I find it adds a heartiness to the drink, and keeps it from tasting like you’re serving a bottle of red that was left in the back of your car for the entire month of August (hot, and gross).
Two oranges and four to eight apples, give or take. In a pinch, if you don't have oranges, just skip them—don't substitute with too-sugary orange juice.
The Bon Appétit mulled wine recipe calls for two cardamom pods, which are sometimes hard to find and not something you’re just going to keep around. However, you can buy cardamom seeds in the spice section along with cinnamon and cloves. A pod generally has around a dozen seeds, so you can use that math for your recipe. Cardamom adds an almost tannic dryness that can offset some sweetness, while adding depth and aromatics.
