Today we’re making a new recipe for an ancient winter drink - Wassail! I looked for the original recipe, and couldn’t believe how many renditions there are for this festive, hot, punch-like drink. I saw recipes calling for hard cider, beer, wine, brandy, mead, and even some nonalcoholic variations. The origins of Wassail date back to pre-christian England, when midwinter festivals were held in the orchards (it’s still celebrated like this in some places). Over time, the drink became associated with Christmas, and traditions surrounding it remain popular today (caroling came from wassailing). With a drink this old, the recipes, like its traditions, were bound to evolve - so I’ve made my own recipe to share with you today! Whether you enjoy Wassail for Christmas, the holidays in general, or plan on sharing it with your fruit trees - stay warm and be merry. Happy holidays, everyone! Waes Hael!

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Video/editing/illustrations by Azusa Inaba 🎥 🎨
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TIME STAMPS
Intro: 0:00
The History: 0:39
The Booze: 3:20
The Recipe: 5:12
Sips & Sign off: 7:49

THE WASSAIL RECIPE 5:12
3 cups (24 oz./ ~720 ml) unfiltered apple juice (nonalcoholic cider)
2 cups (16 oz./ ~480 ml) Lustau Amontillado Los Arcos Sherry
1 cup (8 oz./ ~240 ml) Begyle Brewing Christmas Ale (or favorite dark beer)
1/2 cup (4 oz./ ~120 ml) Laird’s Straight Apple Brandy Bottled in Bond
1/2 cup (~125 g) Demerara sugar
8 whole cloves
8 allspice berries
4 cinnamon sticks
4 cardamom pods
4 slices of fresh ginger
Dried apple slices for garnish

THE TOOLS
The induction burner: https://amzn.to/3mgewEW
Comparable induction pot with lid: https://amzn.to/3vgDxnv
My workhorse double jigger: https://amzn.to/3lmmKrK
Bar spoon: https://amzn.to/3wkkDhg
Muslin bags: https://amzn.to/3mwI5z9
Measuring cup: https://amzn.to/3HXpj2e
Serrated knife: https://amzn.to/3qg8nsB
Electric kettle: https://amzn.to/3J7dAMu

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Image attributions:
- wassailing image 1: Stephen and Helen Jones from England, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
- Wassailing image 2: Brian Marks, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
- Wassailing image 3: Glyn Baker / Anointing
- Wassail Image: Jeremy Tarling from London, United Kingdom