POST
November 29 , 2020
Travel-Inspired Drinks to Warm Your Holidays
Cozy and festive drinks from around Europe that you can make at home this holiday season.
Glühwein (Germany)
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash
Typical ingredients
- red wine (good but not expensive)
- fresh orange
- sugar
- warm spices
- rum (or other hard liquor)
Hot mulled wine is a classic Christmas market staple at European winter festivals throughout Germany, Austria, France and Scandinavia. Luckily, it’s also easy to make up in a big pot on the stovetop. Called glühwein in German, the typical recipe consists of red wine, orange slices, sugar, warm spices like cinnamon and clove, and an extra fortification from a liquor like rum. An even more showy version of glühwein is feuerzangenbowle, which is what happens when a blazing cone of sugar is set atop a cup or punch bowl of mulled wine so that a boozy sugar slowly drips into the drink.
Glögg (Swedish)
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Typical ingredients
- red wine (good but not expensive)
- sugar
- cardamom
- fresh ginger
- cloves
- cinnamon sticks
- almonds
- raisins
- aquavit (or other hard liquor)
If you’re browsing IKEA for a cozy winter throw or inspired holiday décor, you might come across a spice blend or a flavored syrup to make glögg. This lovely warming beverage is the Swedish variation on hot mulled wine. We all know the Scandinavians really know how to do winter, and this is a drink that promises to have you feeling that holiday glow in no time. Most glögg recipes include red wine, sugar, whole aromatics like ginger, cardamom and clove, as well as an optional hard liquor of choice like brandy, bourbon, or vodka. The trick is to let the aromatics steep in the wine for several hours, but never let the alcohol boil out. A fun part about this Swedish mulled wine is that you get to fish out plump blanched almonds and raisins from the bottom of your cup as you drink.
Wassail (England)
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Typical ingredients
- apple cider
- ale
- warm spices
- apple slices
Ward off the winter chill with the sweet and spicy English holiday drink called Wassail, also known as hot spiked cider. All you’ll need is an ale or cider and some fruit and spices to make it festive. Warm it all up on the stove and add in a drop of brandy to provide extra holiday endurance.
Hot Toddy (Scotland)
Typical ingredients
- whiskey
- hot water
- honey
- lemon
Did the hot toddy begin in the damp pubs of Edinburgh or the exotic colonies of British-occupied India? There is some debate. Whatever the origin, this particular tipple is said to have medicinal properties to fight off the cold. The basic recipe involves whiskey mixed with hot water, honey and lemon – you can add spices like clove and cinnamon according to your preference.
Irish Coffee (Ireland)
Typical ingredients
- hot coffee
- Irish whiskey
- sugar
- whipped cream
Here’s a treat that was truly inspired by the weary traveler. In the winter of 1943, a plane was routed back to the airport near Shannon, Ireland, because of inclement weather. Chef Joe Sheridan had the idea to perk up the weary passengers with the addition of Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and freshly whipped cream to the usual cup of hot coffee. Today you can order an Irish Coffee in bars around the world, with bartenders tweaking their own excellent versions.
Anijsmelk (The Netherlands)
Typical ingredients
- hot milk
- anise seed
Here’s one for those who love the taste of licorice – definitely a love it or hate it type of flavor! This hot milk drink flavored lightly with aniseed is a classic warming beverage you might enjoy after exploring Amsterdam on a cold winter’s day. Additionally, a hot mug of milk is good for aiding sleep, and anise is said to soothe the stomach. Keep in mind that anise seed is not the same as star anise, which has a stronger flavor.
Kir Royale (France)
Photo by form PxHere
Typical ingredients
- Crème de Cassis
- Champagne (or sparkling white wine)
Although not hot or spicy, our list wouldn’t be complete without a festive-looking French cocktail for your holiday table. The Kir Royale blends Crème de Cassis, a slightly sweet blackcurrant liquor, with Champagne. You can always use a nice dry sparkling wine to substitute for the bubbly. Add the Crème de Cassis to the glass first, then pour in the Champagne until you have a blush-colored cocktail. You could add cranberries or raspberries as an extra garnish, and of course this is a perfect opportunity to use your prettiest glass flutes!
Bombardino (Italy)
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Typical ingredients
- zabaglione (or egg liqueur)
- brandy
- whipped cream
- ground cinnamon
Whisk yourself away to the ski slopes of the Italian alps with this delicious little winter cocktail. The bombardino is kind of like the Italian version of eggnog. Bombardino actually means “little bomb” in Italian, so get ready to be blown away! Gently heat up an egg liqueur like Advocaat, add to brandy in a shot glass or espresso cup and top with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon.
Sahlep (Turkey)
Photo by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash
Typical ingredients
- sahlep powder (or another starch)
- milk
- sugar
- ground cinnamon and ginger
This rich and creamy winter drink is made from an unexpected ingredient that’s unfortunately also become scarce due to its popularity. Traditionally, sahlep is made with a fine powder that comes from the ground root of wild orchids. In addition to being an excellent thickener for this beverage as well as a famous type of ice cream in Turkey, the orchid root powder is also believed to have medicinal properties related to respiratory issues. This drink is popular in other eastern countries like Egypt and Iran too. If you’re lucky enough to be in Turkey in the winter, you’ll find this hot and filling drink served all over in cafes and from street vendors. At home, you can substitute an ingredient like wheat starch for the sahlep powder that is hard to come by.
Rakomelo (Greece)
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Image by Greek City Times - Greek City Times
Typical ingredients
- Greek raki
- honey
On Greek islands like Crete, the locals turn to rakomelo, a combination of the traditional spirit raki (or tsipouro) and honey, to make the cold winter days more bearable. You can also find rakomelo served chilled during the summer, but it’s best heated up with spices like cloves and cinnamon. This is another beverage with a kick meant to chase away winter blues, persistent coughs and sore throats. If you happen to have a bottle of raki from your travels and some thyme-infused honey, all the better.
Are you inspired to grab the mulling spices and wrap your hands around a steaming mug or whip up a fortifying libation? Have fun trying some of these international classics in your own home this winter.