Christmas is soon going to knock at your door with festivities and fun. The occasion goes incomplete if you do not have the perfect wine to accompany the tasty meals.
However, to make the drink taste better, you can try the mulled wine this time. It is a spiced wine mixed with various special ingredients like raisins, mulling spices, etc.
The drink is popular mainly in the UK, and the charm of sipping the hot or warm mulled wine is indeed unmatchable.
Moreover, mulled wine is one of the most sold commodities in the UK market during winter.
I found this variety to be a great refreshing factor and a must-try in the chilly winters. Your Christmas will happen more as you choose mulled wine over other varieties.
Are you waiting to take a glass of mulled wine in London?
This article will guide you in picking only the best-mulled Wine in London for an unforgettable experience.
I will share authentic information about the best-mulled wine in London and why it is such a recommended drink in the UK.
Contents
History of Mulled Wine
Let me take you to the good old days when mulled wine started its beautiful journey.
In 20 AD, a beverage became very famous in the Roman Empire and was known as Conditum Paradoxum. In today’s date, we call it the mulled wine.
The most interesting ingredient to add to the wine was honey. The Romans used to boil the drink and then gradually added dates and various spices.
However, after stirring the mixture, they made a blend of this wine with a better quality wine. This activity resulted in a softer beverage.
Key Ingredients In Mulled Wine
The spices and key ingredients they used for making the mulled wine are;-
- Saffron
- Pepper
- Laurel
- and, of course, honey
You may add some more ingredients as well for a flavourful and exciting drink.
Today, several brands come up with the best quality mulled wine and give you a magical experience with spicy flavours.
The added ingredients at the present time include:-
- Dry red wine
- Brandy or orange liqueur (1/4th cup only)
- Whole cloves
- Star anise
- Sugar/honey/maple syrup
- Cinnamon sticks
- Sliced oranges
Cultural Significance of Mulled Wine
Romans prepared the mulled wine as a preventive measure against the cough and cold during chilly winters.
They brought the drink to England also when they conquered the country. As a result, it became highly popular among the general public from the 2nd century onward.
Furthermore, the love for the incredible alcoholic beverage crossed borders and soon mesmerized people from other countries, too.
Today, it has a direct connection with Christmas, and no one wants to miss the unique flavours of this spicy beverage during the festive time, especially in London.
Why London is The Best for Best Mulled Wine?
As Santa Claus comes to the town, London welcomes the festive time with the gracious toasts. You can get the finest cocktails at this time of the year.
Therefore, if you are an avid drinker or a passionate lover of unique beverages, London is the best place. Christmas time is the most glorious time in the UK.
You will be spoilt for amazing drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The orange or cranberry syrup is a fine alternative for mulled wine for non-alcoholic people.
Mulled wine is a type of spiced wine, that gives a distinguishing taste from other beverages.
As I have already mentioned, London is the epitome of multiple cocktails with amazing flavours, especially during Christmas.
Moreover, mulled wine is a traditional drink in the city which you cannot afford to miss in winter.
Therefore, please choose the best place to have the best-mulled wine in London and enjoy the moment entirely.
Most London pubs and bars offer delightful mulled wine with different varieties. It does not mean that every such wine will have the same spices.
The ingredients keep on changing as per the unique flavours of the refreshing drink.
Along with the heavy meals on Christmas, you can find mulled wines as a star drink of The Winter Warmer Festival.
Finding the Best Mulled Wine
Are you bothering your brain too much in thinking about how to pick the best-mulled wine?
However, let me tell you that you can prepare the balanced wine in some simple steps.
Moreover, keep the below-mentioned points in mind while having premium quality mulled wine in London.
- The base wine used in the mulled wine recipe should be fine and high-quality
- The place must have a good reputation for serving the best mulled wine
- Lighter wines are perfect for greener spices, while fuller-bodied wines bring a perfect flavour with stroking baking spices like nutmeg.
- Boiled wines are not allowed. Only warm or hot mulled wines are preferable.
- Pick a restaurant with a great ambience and perfect garnishing ideas for a refreshing glass of wine
The Must-Visit Places
If you are dying to taste the best-mulled wine in London, make a list of the most fabulous places offering this superb drink.
Although London has hundreds of centres presenting high-quality mulled wines, you still cannot ignore the additional decor and satisfied feel of a few.
Here are some of those incredible options to sip the beautiful traditional drink.
Add some spices to your life by visiting these cosy restaurants. My recommendations will be for the following.
- Skylight at Wapping
- KERB at South Bank
- Queen of Hoxton at Shoreditch
- The Spaniard’s Inn at Hampstead
- Mr Fogg’s Tavern at Covent Garden
- Trafalgar Tavern at Greenwich
- The Hawk’s Nest at Shepherd’s Bush
- Whistle Punks at Oxford Circus, and many more.
A Culinary Experience
By this time, you are already aware of mulled wine and what type of drink it is.
Now, what about the culinary experience if you want to prepare a lovely glass at home? Of course, that is possible without much effort.
This section discusses the quick recipe for preparing mulled wine with minimum ingredients. Almost all of our households have these basic spices.
Therefore, mulled wine is not a very sophisticated drink that only master chefs can prepare. It is one of the most common and traditional drinks that you can find in almost every house in London.
Step 1: Take a saucepan and mix all the ingredients like red wine, maple syrup or honey, spices like nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, ginger, star anise, orange slices, etc.
Step 2: Stir the mixture very well
Step 3: Heat the wine on medium flame, but do not let it bubble
Step 4: Simmer the mixture for 15 minutes or more. The maximum duration, as per the quantity and wine used, can be 3 hours
Step 5: Use a fresh mesh strainer to discard the unwanted slices or pieces of the spices. (like the cinnamon sticks, orange slices, etc.)
Step 6: Add some more flavours, if necessary, or add any sweetener of your choice for the final touch
Step 7: Stir the wine and finally serve the lovely drink warm in mugs.
Step 8: You can garnish the drink with toppings like orange slices, star anise, etc.
The food that you can have with the tasty mulled wine can be Blue cheese or the subtly sweet Emmental cheese.
You can also try cheese pastries, roasted root vegetables, grilled chicken, seasonal fruits, beef steak, roasted nuts, flavoursome fishes like salmon, glazed ham, etc.
For a great sweet and spicy pairing, you can head to
– Old Red Lion
– Spaniards Inn
– Lord Palmerston
– Mr. Fogg’s Tavern
– Antelope, and so on.
Your love for mulled wine will find solace as you visit these exquisite places for incredible delicacies and hot cups of mulled wine.
Tips for Making Your Own
The most important three tips to make your own mulled wine are as follows:-
- Right Type of Wine: For preparing mulled wine, you have to focus first on the quality and type of wine. It is, after all, the base ingredient for the drink. Therefore, you should not take any risk and pick only dry red wine for the recipe. Bring variation in the taste of the beverage by choosing a strong-flavoured wine. Merlot can be an awesome choice in this respect.
- Carefully Pick The Spices: The next crucial factor is selecting the spices for your mulled wine. Commonly, we use nutmeg and cinnamon sticks for the delicious aroma and flavour. However, you can prepare an exotic drink by making some unique combinations. Some special ingredients for a great taste will be cardamom, ginger, star anise, pepper, cloves, etc. You may ask some specialists to choose appropriate ingredients for your wine.
- Wine Syrup Base: The syrup base for the wine is also vital to give the perfect texture and taste to mulled wine. Mix lemon juice, sugar, or orange syrup in the right quantity for the consistency. Thicken the syrup by heating it. and boiling it before adding it to the actual wine mixture.
Seasonal Events and Festivals
Mulled wine has remained a star attraction for any festival, particularly in the UK. Therefore, allow yourself to gulp down the spicy alcoholic drink during the festive season.
Christmas is the biggest festival that is incomplete without the best-mulled wine in London.
Moreover, you also have the Winter Warmer Festival, The Mulled Drink Festival, weddings, parties, etc. to enjoy mulled wine.
Conclusion
Want to celebrate Christmas in London in the authentic style? Do not forget to have the best-mulled wine in London as a must-drink. It is the traditional drink of the city, during any special festival, especially in winter.
Therefore, Christmas will be more enjoyable as you sip on the warm drink, and have a mesmerizing feeling throughout.
You may visit the top places offering such brilliant beverages at great prices, or prepare your own mulled wine at home.
The spicy flavours will undoubtedly please you, and make your barbeque party more happening. Therefore, in the cold season, it is a must for any occasion or event.