The original name for this cocktail implied it was a Thanksgiving drink, so we first tried it out before the November holiday. But it reminded us of a cold version of glühwein, our favorite, warming Christmas drink that we head to Chicago’s Christkindlmarket for, right after Thanksgiving every year. For as long as we have lived in Chicagoland, we have kicked off the holiday season with a trip to the annual German Christmas market. Our first two stops are always for the glühwein in a seasonal mug accompanied by a stuffed pretzel for lunch. It’s our favorite way to ring in the holiday and get some gift shopping done at the same time!

Cranberries are central to this cocktail, in the form of both juice and whole berries. A touch of Fireball Whiskey contributes a fiery taste of cinnamon. The spicy & warming notes of ginger come through in the libation with the addition of ginger beer or ginger ale. A red blend wine helps meld the individual flavors into this seasonal cocktail. It can be made as a big batch when hosting a crowd, or individual servings for a more intimate event.

Cranberry & Cinnamon Spiced Glühwein

Cranberry & Cinnamon Spiced Glühwein (adapted from delish.com) Total Time Required: 10 minutes, Yields: 4 – 5 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine
• 2 cups ginger beer or ginger ale
• 1-1/2 cups cranberry juice
• 1/3 cup Fireball Whiskey
• 1/3 cup whiskey
• 1 cups frozen cranberries
• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 1 apple, cut into thin slices
• cinnamon sticks for garnish

Directions:

Add the wine, ginger beer, cranberry juice, and whiskeys to a punch bowl. Stir it all together. Garnish the bowl with the frozen cranberries, orange rounds, and apple slices. Serve the drinks over ice.

Combine all the ingredients.

Alternately, to make two servings, combine 5 ounces of red wine, 3 ounces of ginger beer, 2-1/2 ounces of cranberry juice, 1 tablespoon of Fireball, and 1 tablespoon of whiskey in a 2-cup measuring cup. Stir until combined. Split the contents between two rocks glasses and garnish with a few frozen cranberries, an orange round, and an apple slice. Serve with ice.

Serve on ice with cranberries, orange slices, apple slices, and/or cinnamon sticks for garnish.

Christmas is upon us!  ~Linda

Cranberry & Cinnamon Spiced Glühwein (adapted from delish.com) Total Time Required: 10 minutes, Yields: 4 – 5 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine
• 2 cups ginger beer or ginger ale
• 1-1/2 cups cranberry juice
• 1/3 cup Fireball Whiskey
• 1/3 cup whiskey
• 1 cups frozen cranberries
• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 1 apple, cut into thin slices
• cinnamon sticks for garnish

Directions:

Add the wine, ginger beer, cranberry juice, and whiskeys to a punch bowl. Stir it all together. Garnish the bowl with the frozen cranberries, orange rounds, and apple slices. Serve the drinks over ice.

Alternately, to make two servings, combine 5 ounces of red wine, 3 ounces of ginger beer, 2-1/2 ounces of cranberry juice, 1 tablespoon of Fireball, and 1 tablespoon of whiskey in a 2-cup measuring cup. Stir until combined. Split the contents between two rocks glasses and garnish with a few frozen cranberries, an orange round, and an apple slice. Serve with ice.