Welcome back, my little witches and ghosts! I hope everyone had a spooky Halloween, and no one got run over by hordes of trick-or-treat-ers. I had a blast dressing up as one of my favorite villains: Amarantha from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
As the weather gets colder, especially up here in the Upper Penninsula, hot chocolate and tea becomes an every day staple to get through the chill. And as much as I love tea and especially hot chocolate, sometimes the evenings need a little bit more of a kick. That’s where mulled wine comes in.
Growing up in Europe, mulled wine is very popular in the winter in the open markets where the wind has a bite. I’m pretty picky about my wines, usually disliking dry or less sweet wines, but mulled wine is usually mixed with spices and fruits and has a great robust flavor. I’ve been searching recently for the perfect combo to create the best mulled wine, and I feel quite compelled to share with you this:
Witches Brew is a creation of Leelanau Cellars in the northern Michigan peninsula and was started by the Jacobson family in 1974. Don’t let the name fool you though… Just because it sounds “Halloween-esque” doesn’t mean it’s only a Halloween drink. This stuff is so good, they sell it all year round. As someone who is pretty picky about my wines, Witches Brew hits the spot. It’s full of spices, and it’s sweet without tasting syrupy.
“[Witches Brew] is our secret wine blend enhanced with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and other natural spices that makes this a crowd pleaser and favorite of Leelanau Cellars’ fans. Perfect for entertaining, this wine will explode with intense flavor when served warm but can also be served chilled as an ingredient in sangria. Witches Brew is perfect for campfires, tailgating, or any gathering (large or small) on a chilly evening.” -Leelanau Cellars
This stuff is amazing on its own, I’m not going to lie, but it’s even better warmed up with a few extras thrown in. I fiddled around a little bit with the recipe until I got something absolutely perfect for a cold fall/winter day. And today, I present that to you in the form of a new series on the blog: Friday Favorites.
I would recommend trying a couple different spices to see what works best with your wine of choice. I did a little experimentation, and found that this gives me the perfect combo of red wine, orange, and cinnamon. Since I know not everyone has access to Witches Brew, I would recommend either a Merlot or a Cabernet Sauvignon. Or pick your own favorite! Something red with a full body of flavor that’s not too sweet. Remember you’ll be adding in all kinds of spices to sweeten it up, so if the wine starts out dry, don’t worry about it!
Thanks for visiting, and stick around because another Friday Favorites is coming up next week!
Hannarchy 