Trader Joe’s Winter Wassail Christmas Cocktail: A Classic Holiday Drink for the Season! Served warm or chilled, this traditional cocktail is perfect for a holiday party drink, sitting by the fire or serving at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.
Winter Wassail Christmas Cocktail
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This holiday season I’ve had one of two drinks in my hand – the Christmas Cranberry Champagne or the Winter Wassail Christmas Cocktail. My mother-in-law Kathy brought this wassail drink to Thanksgiving this year, and ever since I’ve been hooked!
What exactly is a wassail?
Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/; Old Norse “ves heil”, Old English was hál, literally: be hale) is a beverage of hot mulled cider, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, a Medieval Christmastide English drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year. (cited from Wikipedia)
You can make your own homemade wassail, but if you have a Trader Joe’s they make a winter wassail that they carry in store that is delicious! This is what I use to make this wassail cocktail – it is so easy and quick!
I adapted my Winter Wassail Christmas Cocktail from the recipe on Trader Joes’s website. You can serve chilled or warm – I prefer warm during these winter months. Scroll down for the full ingredients list and recipe instructions – print out the recipe card or pin to your holiday board to remember each season!
Winter Wassail Christmas Cocktail Ingredients:
- 1 part Bourbon or Whiskey (I use Oak & Eden Bourbon and Vine)
- 3 parts Trader Joe’s Winter Wassail
- Cranberries, Oranges, Apples, or other fruits you have on-hand
- Rosemary for garnish
- Cinnamon Stick (if drinking warm)
How to Make Winter Wassail Christmas Cocktail?
- In a mug, add 1 part bourbon or whiskey to 3 parts Trader Joe’s Winter Wassail. Mix well.
- Add in cranberries, cinnamon stick, and rosemary
- Cheers and enjoy!
Tips, Suggestions and Alterations:
- If serving chilled, freeze the cranberries to help keep drink chilled
- If serving warm and making a big batch, make mixture over the stove to keep warm. Add in cinnamon sticks, cranberries and rosemary to batch mixture.
Winter Wassail Christmas Cocktail Recipe
Winter Wassail Christmas Cocktail: A Classic Holiday Drink for the Season! Served warm or chilled, this traditional cocktail is perfect for sitting by the fire or serving at your Christmas meals.
Ingredients
- 1 part Bourbon or Whiskey (I use Oak & Eden Bourbon and Vine)
- 3 parts Trader Joe's Winter Wassail
- Cranberries, Oranges, Apples, or other fruits you have on-hand
- Rosemary for garnish
- Cinnamon Stick (if drinking warm)
Instructions
- In a mug, add 1 part bourbon or whiskey to 3 parts Trader Joe's Winter Wassail. Mix well.
- Add in cranberries, cinnamon stick, and rosemary
- Cheers and enjoy!
Notes
Tips, Suggestions and Alterations:
Cheers and happy holidays!
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