My favorite coctile concoctions include cocktails like hot apple cider, cranberry wassail, and hot buttered rum.
Hot apple cider:
6 cups apple cider
1/4 cup real maple syrup
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole allspice berries
1 orange peel, cut into strips
1 lemon peel, cut into strips
heat 5-10 minutes without boiling, add 1 cup rum just before serving
Cranberry wassail:
1/2 gallon apple cider
1/2 gallon cranberry juice
1 cup lemon juice
1 large orange, thinly sliced
24 whole cloves
1/4 cup clover honey
1/2 cup white sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Garnish:
12 fresh mint leaves
12 orange slices for garnish
simmer 10-15 minutes, add one cup bourbon or whiskey just before serving
Hot buttered rum:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 (16 ounce) package confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 pound light brown sugar, packed
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
cream the butter and the sugars together until smooth, add the softened ice cream and mix until a creamy consistency is obtained, Place a heaping 2 tablespoons of the frozen mix in a highball glass or coffee mug, Add 1 to 2 tablespoons dark rum, Pour over the mix 6 ounces of boiling water and stir until the mixture is melted, Sprinkle top with cinnamon or nutmeg and serve