4 Slow-Cooker Cocktails You Can Prepare Hours Before Guests Arrive
The slow-cooker in your kitchen is for more than just brewing comforting stews for dinner. It can be put to use for making and storing warm winter cocktails, in order to make entertaining easier. In fact, hot drinks for winter, such as mulled wines or hot buttered rum can be prepared ahead of time and kept warm in the slow-cooker until guests begin arriving. When they rest at the perfect serving temperature, they can easily and efficiently be offered to guests, hassle-free and without fuss. And brewing these winter cocktails in the slow-cooker can actually be quite an interesting mixology activity.
Slow-Cooker Mulled Cider
(Serves 10)
One of the best things about making slow-cooker cocktails is that they can be brewed as batched drinks, so serving several guests at one go becomes smoother and faster. Think classic mulled cider as a warm winter drink perfect as a batch cocktail recipe, more so because of the spiced infusions whose flavours and aromas come through better when they are released gradually.
– The easiest way to make warm mulled cider is by adding the apple cider, orange slices and spices such as cinnamon, cloves and star anise and dry ginger directly to the slow cooker.
– As the cider mulls and warms up, the flavours of the spices start to bloom. A gentle, spiced aroma wafts through the kitchen as the spices do their work.
– It is possible to adorn the mulled cider with more aromatics such as a vanilla bean flavour accent for an extra-smooth, bar-quality finish.
– Bring a fun DIY element into the mulled cider cocktail glasses by setting up a separate garnishing booth where guests can decorate their drink with cinnamon sticks, dehydrated citrus wheels and more.
Slow-Cooker Hot Buttered Rum
(Serves 8)
Rich, silky and velvety smooth, hot buttered rum is a bonafide winter drink, perfect for entertaining guests especially at a festive gathering. The slow-cooker can turn this classic, traditional, tavern-style drink into a contemporary rendition made for the modern kitchen and bar.
– To make the hot buttered rum, creaming butter, brown sugar, vanilla essence and spices like nutmeg powder and cinnamon powder, is a very crucial step.
– These creamed ingredients bring a velvety touch into the cocktail that warms in the slow-cooker, as the dark rum and water mixture starts to simmer.
– Adding a splash of spiced rum to the recipe definitely lends it a more festive twist. Swap a quarter of the dark rum with spiced rum to infuse its spicy tones into the cocktail.
– Once the cocktail is ready, keep the slow-cooker on ‘warm’ so it is easy to ladle the drink into small, round glass mugs, facilitating smooth serving.
Slow-Cooker Spiced Wine
(Serves 10)
All things wintry, all things festive – the spiced wine can be a go-to cocktail when you entertain guests at a party which marks this merry season. In fact, a perfectly-made spiced wine can be the signature cocktail of the gathering, which fits right into its festive theme.
– When crafted as a mixture of red wine, cranberry juice and brandy, the slow-cooker spiced wine takes on a ruby-toned, maroonish hue which spells all things holiday-ish and festive.
– Once the cocktail is ready, add a handful of fresh cranberries to it, to introduce a lightly tart and tangy quality into the drink that would go with the flavours of oranges and honey, so integral to the spiced wine recipe.
– Ensure that the cocktail is warm, but that it never boils. This is because boiling the wine makes the flavours and aromas of the alcohol go off, affecting its taste drastically.
– For a luxe twist, add a touch of ruby port just before serving the drink.
Also Read: A Whisky Tasting Journey That Sparks Conversations On Slow Sipping Evenings
Slow-Cooker Wassail
(Serves 10)
If there was one drink which meant business amidst the traditions surrounding the festive season, it is the wassail. Made as a mixture of apple cider, orange juice, pineapple juice and assorted aromatic spices, the slow-cooker wassail is citrusy, spiced and wonderfully fragrant.
– Slow-cook the cocktail for at least 3-4 hours before guests start arriving at the party. This will ensure all the flavours of the spices seep into the drink.
– For a more herbal note, along with cinnamon and star anise, also add a bay leaf to the drink. It will introduce a grassy, umami effect into the cocktail.
– Wassail is supposed to be a sweet drink, enriched with the flavours of honey and apples. Add just a touch of lemon juice at the end to brighten these principle tasting notes.
Key Takeaways:
– The slow-cooker in your kitchen can be used for more than just culinary dishes. It is an excellent tool for preparing warm cocktails in winter.
– Slow-cooker drinks are prepared by infusing wines or ciders with the flavours of different spices and fruits, which turns them into deeply complex, aromatic serves.
– Slow-cooker cocktails made ahead of a party can be an efficient way to prepare batched drinks, effectively minimising the hassle of always being behind the bar at a party you host.
FAQs:
– Which are some of the slow-cooker cocktails that can be made in winter weather?
Slow-cooker cocktails like spiced wine, mulled cider and wassail are drinks that can be prepared in winter weather.
– What are the different spices used for slow-cooker cocktail infusions?
Most commonly, spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise are used for slow-cooker cocktail infusions. One can also use bay leaves and dry ginger for added aroma.
– Why is it essential to warm the alcohol in the slow-cooker without boiling it?
Boiling the alcohol affects its flavours drastically, such that wines, rums and brandies lose out on their complexity. That’s why alcohol should be warmed, and not boiled in the slow-cooker.
*All cocktails listed use 30 ml liquor measurements for single serves. Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
