Spiked Cider

I've been mulling over (No pun intended) making a spiked cider for a while now. After all, nothing quite warms the soul like a hot toddy or mulled wine, so obviously a spiked apple cider should be the most emotionally nuriting drink for the autumn months.

This spiked cider is really just a hot mulled cider with some rum added to it. Here's how I made it:

Hot Spiked Cider

1 1/4 cup apple cider

1 cinnamon stick, broken, plus an optional extra for garnish

3 cloves

1 tsp ground nutmeg, plus an optional pinch for garnish

1/2 inch knob ginger, peeled and sliced

2-3 dried allpice berries, crushed

1" lemon peel

1 oz gold rum

Place cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger in a mesh bag, and add to a pot with the cider and lemon peel. Heat, but DO NOT BOIL (as you can see, mine boiled when I had to go take care of something else, so that;s why it's all cloudy like that), and simmer for about 10-12 minutes. Pour into a mug with 1 oz of rum, and if you want, garnish. Serve immediately.

If you want to make more, I would suggest not increasing the spices very much, and simply simmer for a little longer. Next time if I'm making a large batch, I might heat it in a crock pot or something and leave the spice bag in there so it can get more flavor over time, just like the tea from my dad's hot toddies.

I origionally was thinking of adding bourbon, but rum made a better match. If you wanna try bourbon, or vodka, or maybe apple jack, please post your results.

-Lots and lots of love!

Kat