Glogg | Swedish Hot Mulled Wine Punch is Popular Scandinavian Christmas Drink

Glogg, pronounced [ gluhg ], is a hot, spiced and sweetened wine punch which is a very popular tradition during the Christmas holidays in Nordic and particularly Scandinavian homes.  Glögg has origins in Sweden and is the shortening of the Swedish ” glödgat vin ” or mulled wine.  Glogg drink recipes vary widely and is also known as gløgg: Norway and Denmark, glühwein: Germany, glögi: Finland, vin chaud: France and many other regional variations.

Gløgg | Mulled Wine Ingredients:

• 1 quart  dry red wine
• 1 quart  muscatel wine
• 1 pint  sweet vermouth
• 1 tbs.  Angostura bitters
• 1 cup  raisins
• peelings from 1 orange
• 5 whole  cloves
• 1/2 tsp.  cardamom
• 1 stick  cinnamon
• 3/4 cup  vodka
• 3/4 cup  sugar
• slivered almonds

Mix wines, vermouth, bitters, raisins, orange peel and spices.  Let stand overnight. Shortly before serving, add the vodka and sugar.  Heat to just below boiling and remove.  Spoon a few almonds in the bottom of a punch cup and add the glogg.  Leave the spoon in to eat the almonds.  This is an old Norwegian recipe which adds vodka for extra punch.  It is also traditional to use ginger, nutmeg, akvavit and brandy as well as substituting fruit juices for the wine for non-alcoholic versions.  Set up your bar to enjoy the drink of Vikings and warm up with some glögg this Christmas.