| DEEP DIVE |
TIME HONORED TRADITIONS
Festive drinks have been livening up holiday celebrations for thousands of years , and are arguably as important as the music , meals and decorations they accompany .
Mulled ( or spiced ) wine dates back to the second century in Rome , and is popular throughout Europe during the holiday season . Also known as Glühwein in Germany and Glögg in Scandanavia , mulled wines are served hot and contain a variety of spices such as nutmeg , cinnamon and ginger . They are often served with a cinnamon stick or orange peel , alongside ginger bread or dry cookies .
While mulled wine is relatively easy to make from scratch , prepared versions can be found in many grocery and liquor store — especially around the holidays . If you ’ re making it at home , you can also try adding port wine , brandy or whiskey to adjust the flavors .
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BY JEREMY NEDELKA
To create mulled wine , start with a red wine , add a combination of spices , heat and enjoy !
Dating to at least the 1600s , eggnog is popular throughout North and South America ( and in Puerto Rico , where a similar concoction is known as a Coquito ).
A frothy drink containing milk , cream , sugar , eggs and spices , eggnog can be made with a variety of liquors , including rum , whiskey or brandy . Homemade recipes vary , but commercial eggnog must contain at least 1 % egg yolk solids under FDA regulations . According to the American Egg Board , U . S . consumers drink more than 50 million bottles of eggnog per year .
In many Caribbean islands , the Coquito is popular around the holidays . It ’ s a cream-based drink like eggnog , but made with coconut milk instead of eggs . Most commonly made with rum and a mix of spices , coquito recipes are passed down from generation to generation in many families .
OTHER IDEAS Mulled wine and eggnog aren ’ t for everybody , but there are plenty of other holiday drink options to fit every taste . Batched options like Christmas punch are easy to make and customize , and variations on the Mimosa with pomegranate or cranberry juice can spice up any gathering with family or friends .
However you choose to enjoy the holiday season , Cheers !
Try these at Home
SPICED EGG NOG
2 parts Pennsylvania Dutch egg nog 1 part Spiced rum 1 part Coffee liqueur
Combine ingredients in glass over ice . Top with whipped cream and nutmeg .
The mixologists at Pennsylvania Dutch created this recipe .
COQUITO
1 cup Don Q Cristal rum 14 oz . Sweetened condensed milk 12 oz . Evaporated milk 8.5 oz . Cream of coconut 1 tsp Vanilla extract 1 tsp Ground cinnamon ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
Mix all ingredients in a blender at high speed . Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving . Shake well and serve cold in rocks glasses . Sprinkle with ground cinnamon .
The mixologists at Don Q created this recipe .
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