In order for people not only to keep warm in winter, but also to enjoy themselves, hot alcoholic drinks were invented a long time ago. Actually, there is not very much alcohol in all of them and the degree is not high, but these drinks warm them much better than ordinary tea or coffee. However, in order not to grab a drink that you do not like to taste, it is better to understand everything in advance. For example, what is the difference between mulled wine and punch, and are both of them different from glogg? What drinks were invented by the cunning French, and what will delight lovers of higher degrees.
Mulled wine
This is the most famous and popular of hot alcoholic drinks, which is prepared in winter almost everywhere with slight national differences. Mulled wine is a red wine boiled with sugar and spices; very often fruits are added there. It appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, originally made on the basis of burgundy and claret. Nowadays red dry and semi-dry wines are used for preparation.
Mulled wine is prepared in winter in almost all European countries, sold from stalls in Christmas markets, and in many cities such stalls are open from December to February - you can have a glass while stopping for a minute on the street. However, there are slight differences in different countries. For example, in Germany a little rum and agave syrup are added to wine, in England - gin, honey and rosehip syrup. There is even white mulled wine - for those who don't like red wine.
Apple cocktail with calvados
There are many original drinks in France that are produced only in this country, and Calvados is one of them. It is obtained by distilling apple cider, and with the onset of the cold season in Normandy, they begin to prepare a hot cocktail based on Calvados. It is not for nothing that it is produced here! The classic local recipe includes calvados, apple juice and ginger. The mixture should be fairly hot, but not scalding, and is usually served in clear glasses. It is an aromatic, warming and very healthy drink.
Grog
The rum with spices diluted with water was invented by Edward Vernon, nicknamed Old Grog, Vice Admiral of the British Navy, back in the 18th century. He ordered, in order to save money, to distribute rum diluted with hot or cold water to the sailors, and the crew suddenly liked it. The drink stuck, over time they began to add spices there, and now it is one of the most popular hot cocktails. Grog is a quick and easy-to-prepare winter drink, since you need a little spices here (usually cinnamon, ginger and cloves, and even then at will), you only need strong alcohol and lemon juice. Sometimes milk, honey or coffee infusion is added and the resulting drink is served in porcelain cups. Traditional rum-based grog is served either in Irish coffee glasses or in warmed glasses with cup holders.
Hot beer cocktail
In the north of Europe, mainly in Germany, Poland and Sweden, they came up with a drink with hot beer. Its taste is rather peculiar, although this does not negate the warming properties. Beer is a specific thing, you need to be very careful about heating it, and therefore the recipe for "hot beer" also includes eggs, sugar and lemon, plus a little nutmeg. Light wheat beer is used for preparation. Sometimes there is also a "dark" version - then brandy and coffee liqueur are added to the beer. For completeness and an interesting combination of flavors, whipped cream is also added on top. You should definitely try such a cocktail if you find it on the menu! Mulled wine is sold on every corner, and such exotic is prepared only for true gourmets.
Punch
A fun collective drink that is so pleasant to prepare for a large company. Now this name is collective: if in England, which got the idea of punch in colonial India, it is still a drink with rum, then, for example, in Germany, punch is usually called a mixture of fruit juices with spices and the addition of wine or liquor. Everyone agrees on one thing: fruit must be present in the punch. Usually these are apples, lemons, oranges, pears. The French, who are prone to originality, add melon, strawberries and bourbon vanilla to their version of punch.
Cocktail "Old Tom"
It's time to warm up for those who prefer whiskey. The Old Tom cocktail is very fond of conservative Englishmen: apparently, the name and composition resemble the patriarchal atmosphere of closed clubs, the soft light of table lamps and the invariable cigar smoking in an ashtray. It contains whiskey, water (it must be hot), honey and a little lemon juice. It also happens that first a cinnamon stick and cloves are boiled in boiling water, and then whiskey, sugar, lemon and honey are added. A couple of lemon slices must be placed in the glass itself. You won't find this cocktail at street vendors, but in most cafes it is served quite often in winter.
Cocktail "Old Tom"
It's time to warm up for those who prefer whiskey. The Old Tom cocktail is very fond of conservative Englishmen: apparently, the name and composition resemble the patriarchal atmosphere of closed clubs, the soft light of table lamps and the invariable cigar smoking in an ashtray. It contains whiskey, water (it must be hot), honey and a little lemon juice. It also happens that first a cinnamon stick and cloves are boiled in boiling water, and then whiskey, sugar, lemon and honey are added. A couple of lemon slices must be placed in the glass itself. You won't find this cocktail at street vendors, but most cafes serve it quite often in winter.
Hot chocolate with rum
The sweetest drink is, of course, hot chocolate. And if you add rum to it, as they do in winter in many European countries, then it turns into incredibly warming. Sometimes they use cocoa instead of thick hot chocolate, but this does not interfere with the taste at all.
To prepare the drink, you need a dark Cuban or Jamaican rum, from the Dominican Republic is also suitable. At times, vanilla, grated coconut, or even a chili pepper are added for flavor. It happens that rum is replaced by liqueur or vodka (then the drink, like many mixtures with vodka, is called "Russian" - they do not forget us in Europe). In addition to being a warming drink, it is also very nutritious and will keep you going until your next meal.
Glogg
This Scandinavian version of mulled wine is definitely worth trying in Sweden, Denmark or Norway. It resembles the German version, but tastes much sweeter due to the addition of raisins to the wine. The recipe also contains apples, lemon, cloves, cinnamon and almonds. In Denmark, ginger is added to this, and Sweden generally pours vodka and pours cardamom there. The resulting result warms up for a long time. For even better taste sensations, it is recommended to eat gingerbreads, oranges and tangerines on the glogg. In cafes and restaurants, it is served in glasses and glasses, on the street it is poured into simple plastic cups and cooked in vats. And according to the tradition, you must first smell the glogg, inhaling the aroma deeply, and then drink it.
Hot French Wine
Vin chaud is a specific French version of mulled wine served on special occasions. This is what gourmets prefer when it comes to winter cocktails. It is served in glasses; lemon oil, Provencal rosemary and almonds are added to the warmed wine. The traditional components of mulled wine - all these citrus fruits, apples, cinnamon, cloves, ginger - are not welcome: they are believed to spoil the noble taste of the drink. But families and restaurants simply do not hesitate to add all this. In the south of France, it is generally impossible to do without an orange. In vain there are so many of them, - the good will not be lost. And with an orange, the wine becomes even more aromatic.
