Mulled wine....mmmmm

[TaffyandTeenyTaffy]

I have agreed to host the pre-Christmas-meal drinks for my mummy-friends - (I loooooove Christmas and I am quite excited about it!). There will be 13 of us, (10 drinkers and 3 drivers) and I would love to make mulled wine - I've never made it before - so please come and share your mulled wine wisdom with me.

Do you have a fool-proof tried and tested recipe? (I am asking now as I will obviously need to make several batches over the coming weeks for research purposes ....just to make sure I get it right on the night, of course )

What do you make it in? Slow cooker was suggested - or just a big pan?

What do you serve it in? I have a couple of those nice glass mugs with metal handles - which I thought might be ok.

What would you serve with it, nibbles wise?

I am also going to serve some bubbly and smoked salmon blinis as an alternative as I know some people wont like mulled wine.

Well you firstly need something nice for the drivers (I'm sure you realise this - you just didn't mention it!).
Secondly - glasses with metal handles - do the handles conduct heat? Because that wouldn't be good. I've never really known what to serve mulled wine in - tend to go for quite thick whiskey tumblers.

Recipes - This one is lovely but I'm never too sure about the Star Anise addition. The Guardian do this feature with classic food/drinks where they test assorted recipes to come up with the perfect version - this is the one on mulled wine. Worth a read.

The glass cups sound good- it's the sort of thing you would get in Germany.

As Hassled sad, best to make at least an alcoholic and non-alcoholic version for drivers and pregnant people.

Nibbles- what you have suggested sounds yum but best check that everyone likes fish or aren't veggie.

Hassled - thanks - those links are great!
Maybe I will have to try out the recipe with and without the star anise.... y'know, for "research", just to make sure.

No, I don't think the handles conduct heat - they are for coffee/latte so should be ok (sorry not very good at links) - but tumblers would be good too. Might even have some christmas-y tumblers hidden away somewhere.

Yes, there'll be plenty of nice stuff for the drivers. Got to look after them.
And olives 'n' posh crisps.

Need some more nibbles ideas though - can't think what would be nice with mulled wine (other than mince pies!)

bottle green used to do a brilliant mulled style cordial, so that could be tittivated for the drivers if you can still get it.

i use either irish coffee glasses or tea glasses, which sound like your metal/glass ones.

For my mulled wine, I use a bottle of red, into a pan over a low heat, add in chopped oranges, you can segment these or just chop peel and all, same for an apple.

Cinnamon stick and a grating of nutmeg, sometimes I add in bit of stem ginger, very finely chopped, and some of the juice from the jar.

A generous glass of port, and a sloosh of cherry brandy.

Oh, yes I think I know the cordial. Good plan!
Mmm - sounds yummy....can't wait to start the taste test. November could be a bit of a blur!

I noticed that the Guardian one doesn't have cloves- you need cloves!

these are the type of glass mugs I have