A classic winter beverage, often shared while going door-to-door singing carols or participating in wassailing, updated here with a Southern whiskey twist. This Winter Whiskey Wassail takes spiced, mulled apple cider and transforms it into a warm, comforting cocktail perfect for cold evenings. Give it a try—you might find it becomes a seasonal favorite.
This drink is a riff on a hot toddy built on an apple cider base. It delivers that same cozy, warming sensation and does exactly what you want on a chilly night: warms you from the inside out.
How to make Wassail
Wassail and mulled or spiced apple cider are essentially the same, the term “wassail” being a traditional name with roots in Medieval English Christmastide rituals. The flavor profile is the familiar mix of warm spices and fruit, made fragrant by gentle simmering.
Definition: Wassail traditionally refers to hot mulled cider consumed as part of wassailing, an English custom intended to bless the apple harvest. In modern kitchens it simply describes a spiced, warmed apple drink.
To make a basic Wassail, start with a fresh gallon or about 4 cups of apple cider and a few whole ingredients: sliced lemons, a cinnamon stick, a piece of fresh ginger, star anise, and a split vanilla bean. Combine everything in a pot and gently warm so the spices and fruit can infuse the cider.
If you enjoy bold spice, add whole cloves or a few allspice berries. Some recipes include white peppercorns, cranberry juice, or a sliced orange for extra brightness. Treat the process like steeping tea: keep the cider on low heat and let the fruit and spices infuse for about 30–45 minutes.
When the steeping time is up, remove the pot from the heat and strain out the solids so the Wassail remains balanced and not bitter. Return it to low heat if you want to keep it warm for serving at a gathering.
To turn the Wassail into a cocktail, pour 8 ounces of the warm, strained Wassail into a mug and add 1 to 1½ ounces of whiskey. Stir gently and garnish as you like—a cinnamon stick or a star anise pod makes a simple, aromatic finishing touch.
📖 Recipe
Winter Whiskey Wassail Cocktail
Make a traditional Wassail to enjoy on cool winter nights. This recipe yields about four cocktails, depending on how much cider you pour per serving.
Ingredients
- 4 cups apple cider
- 1-inch nub fresh ginger, halved
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 star anise pods
- ½ vanilla bean, seeds removed
- Whiskey, 1–1½ ounces per drink
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the cider, ginger, lemon slices, cinnamon stick, star anise, and vanilla bean. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30–45 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse.
- Remove the pot from heat and strain out the fruit and spices. Return the liquid to low heat if you need to keep it warm.
- Pour 8 ounces of the warm Wassail into a mug, add 1–1½ ounces of whiskey, stir, garnish if desired, and enjoy.
Notes
Variations include substituting brown ale, cranberry juice, mead, or a sweet wine for some of the cider. For extra spice, add whole cloves, allspice berries, or white peppercorns. The Wassail keeps well in a crockpot or on low heat on the stove for serving at gatherings.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 grams
Amount Per Serving:
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
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