Hot Spiced Wine

• Recipe by John Besh

Red wine and kirsch (a brandy made from cherries) are the base for this delicious seasonal drink, which is laced with citrus and warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper.

Ingredients

1. 2 bottles light-bodied red wine
2. 1 1/4 cups sugar
3. Zest of 1 orange
4. Zest of 1 lemon
5. 3 black peppercorns, crushed
6. 2 cardamom pods, crushed
7. One 3-inch cinnamon stick, crushed
8. 1 clove, crushed
9. 1/2 cup kirsch

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, combine the red wine with the sugar and the orange and lemon zests. Put the spices in a tea ball and add to the saucepan. Bring the wine to a very slow simmer over moderate heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat, discard the tea ball and stir in the kirsch. Ladle the spiced wine into heatproof glasses and serve at once.

Make Ahead

The spiced wine can be kept overnight at room temperature. Reheat before serving.