Holiday Wassail Cocktail
Wassail is a spiced apple cider drink that is both festive and warming. It was traditionally served in Great Britain during the holidays—especially during wassailing, a ritual of going door to door drinking, caroling, and raising funds for charity.

This recipe has two versions, one is warmed for chilly nights, and the iced version can be enjoyed any time of year.

Our recipe features both rum and cognac along with the homemade spiced apple cider, pomegranate juice, and freshly squeezed citrus. The cinnamon, cloves, and allspice lend a particularly seasonal flavor.

Holiday Wassail Cocktail Recipe
Adapted from Liquor Magazine
Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients
For the Wassail
1 quart organic apple cider
2 cups unsweetened pomegranate juice
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice

For the cocktail
1-1/2 ounces Louis Royer Force 53° VSOP cognac
1/2 ounce rum
4 ounces wassail*, hot (or 3 ounces wassail*, chilled, if serving cold)
Apple slices and a cinnamon stick for garnish

Directions
Make the wassail
Add all of the wassail ingredients to a saucepan and bring it to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer on very low for about one hour to infuse the juices with the spices. Stir occasionally.

Remove the wassail from the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature. Strain the solids and store the liquid in the refrigerator

Mix the cocktail
If serving the Wassail Cocktail hot, add the cognac and rum to a toddy glass and top with warmed wassail. Garnish with apple slices.

If serving the Wassail Cocktail cold, add the cognac, rum, and chilled wassail to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with apple slices.