Nothing warms you up more than a spicy glass of mulled wine. The divine aromas of citrus and spice coupled with the pungent smell of warmed red wine draws you in and then the taste and warmth of it on your tongue makes every sip a flavour experience. I really love the star anise; it gives the wine this delectable liquorice quality worth savouring on your palate.
The first time I tried this was when a Finnish girl I was working with in Milford Sound made it for her birthday on Christmas Eve. It was a very heady brew that didn’t quite match the soaring hot summer and my aching sunburnt shoulders, nonetheless it piqued my interest and I vowed to try it again under a more suitable climate. Here are the results of my efforts. I find the water helps to make it less overpowering but you may find you like it a little stronger.