Victorian Mulled Wine

This mulled wine recipe, which uses white wine, was popular in Victorian times:

• One bottle of sparkling white wine
• Half of a pint (258 ml) of fruit juice (optional)
• Vodka or gin as desired (also optional)
• Three large oranges
• Nine cloves
• One quarter of a pint (140 ml) of blackcurrant syrup
• Half of a teaspoon of ground ginger
• Half of a teaspoon of ground mace
• One cinnamon stick
• Sugar as desired

Instructions

Stick three cloves in each orange and then place the oranges in a baking dish. Bake for twenty minutes. Slice the oranges, and place them in a bowl.

Place the wine in a saucepan and heat. You may mix the fruit juice in now.

Add the oranges, cloves, blackcurrant syrup, ginger, mace and cinnamon to the saucepan, allowing the mixture to continue warming.

Remove from heat.

Add enough sugar to produce the desired level of sweetness.

Add vodka or gin, if you want it.

Serve while warm.