Christmas mulled wine

Mulled wine
A brilliant way to keep yourself warm at Christmas.
So easy to make and you can keep adding to it. If unexpected guests arrive and you've no wine left, simply add some more water and fruit. Use the recipe below as a basic guideline, adjusting the quantities of wine if you want it stronger and adding more sugar or honey if you like it sweeter

1 bottle red wine

60g/2oz demerara sugar

1 cinnamon stick

grated nutmeg

1 orange, halved

1 dried bay leaf

60ml/2fl oz sloe or damson gin (optional)

Method
1. Put the wine in a saucepan with the orange, sugar, bay leaf and the spices.

2. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Taste to see if you want the wine sweeter, and add more sugar to taste.

3. Off the heat, stir in the sloe or damson gin if you are using it.

4. Strain into heatproof glasses and serve at once.

Submitted by Kenny McBean, Food and Beverage Manager at The Rembrandt