Christmas is just around the corner, and with it comes the consumption of our favourite seasonal drinks. Just like every other season, there are the seasonal drinks that we just can’t seem to get enough of around this time of year – despite not being readily available during the rest of the year. Whether it’s down to tradition or seasonality, these classic holiday drinks are exactly what we find ourselves craving during the winter months. Some have been consumed around Christmas for as long as modern society can remember, and their arrival to the drinks market often signals the imminent arrival of the Christmas season.
One of the biggest names on the list is mulled wine, arguably the most popular drink of the Christmas season. Everyone has heard of it and most have tried it, but interestingly, mulled wine is not a recent invention! Originating from the 2nd Century, mulled wine was first created by the Romans, who would heat their wine to help protect their bodies from the cold. As they continued to conquer their way across Europe, mulled wine became a hit. As it grew in popularity, many aspects of the modern version of this drink were introduced through the different variations, such as spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves,as well as the addition of orange segments.
Mulled wine’s younger sister is also a popular choice of seasonal drink. It is traditionally made from heated apple cider with spices similar to mulled wine – including nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Mulled cider is reminiscent of an ancient pagan tradition named “Wassailing”, which was a drink that was made up of mulled ale, curdled cream, roasted apple, eggs, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and sugar. Served in 10-gallon bowls made of silver or pewter, the Wassailing would be passed in its bowl around the room with great magnificence, followed by a traditional carol about the ritual, before the beverage was consumed.
Perhaps considered the more unusual of the traditional Christmas season drinks, eggnog is by no means less adored! The origin of this beverage – usually made up of milk, sugar, raw eggs, one or more alcoholic spirits, and spices like vanilla or nutmeg – seems to stem from medieval Britain’s ‘Posset’. This drink was a hot, milky, ale-like drink, and by the 13th century, it was said that monks would drink a Posset with eggs and figs.
A staple in the UK, Buck’s Fizz is a drink similar to the mimosa, which is made up of two parts champagne to one part orange juice. This drink is named after Buck’s Club in London, where it was initially invented as an excuse to start drinking alcohol earlier in the day. This drink was served for the first time in 1921, making it a modern addition to our Christmas seasonal drinks list.
All of these winter drinks staples are sure to be a hit at this time of year, but that doesn’t mean they’re your only options. There are a host of other spirits and mixers you can experiment with in order to create your own wintery concoction that’s sure to keep you snug. Some of the Signet team’s favourites are Rusty Nail, made by mixing Drambuie and Scotch whisky, or a warm ginger wine with a dash of brandy. Hot chocolate and Baileys is another winner here, along with classics like spiced rum and coke and scotch and ginger, all with just the right amount of spiced goodness to keep you warm during the cold months!
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