Vin brulé

Version of mulled wine from Piemonte, northwestern Italy. 

Serves 3 or more

Ingredients:

🍊  1 orange

½ cinnamon stick

½ tsp allspice berries

3 whole cloves

🍷  750 ml bottles dry red wine

⅓ to ½ cup sugar

🍊  thin slices of orange, for serving

🥃  brandy (optional)

Directions:

Remove the peel from the oranges with a vegetable peeler. Set the peel in a square of cheesecloth with the cinnamon, allspice, and cloves, and tie to enclose.

Put the sachet in a large Dutch oven, and add the wine and ⅓ cup sugar. Bring to a bare simmer over low heat. Taste, and add the remaining sugar, to your taste. Simmer 5 minutes, then reduce heat to the lowest setting and simmer for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. To serve, drop an orange slice and a splash of brandy (if using) into a coffee mug or teacup, and ladle in the vin brûlé.