Here we come, a-wassailing ♪♫♪♪♫

Being an American I was aware of wassail, but had never tasted the brew. Had I been born British, I probably would have been more aware of what wassail actually was.

For the record, wassail is a greeting that rich folks gave other rich folks around the holidays. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase waes hael, a term often used as a toast meaning, be hale or good health.

People would walk around their community, knocking on other people's doors, and sing "Waes Hael!". The people answering the door, feeling a bit lonely, and a little concerned for the mental health of these door to door well-wishers. So, they offered them heated alcohol.

The drink could really consist of nearly anything, as long as it had ale, sherry, port wine or brandy as a base, simmered with apples or cider and mulling spices. Some people recommend mixing the wassail with eggs but these folks should be patted on the head, sent to the store to pick up some fresh eggs... and then mocked while absent from you.

Incidentally, after you pour yourself a mug you must remove the wassail from heat or else you'll end up forgetting about it and then having a nice sticky saucepan full of wassail syrup.

Not that I'm speaking from first hand experience *cough cough*.

The taste of this drink is quite good. Deep, rich and spicy. It's no wonder why this drink was handed out to those who went out caroling.

• 2 pints and 1/4 cup brown ale (winter ale or Scottish ale will also suffice)
• 3-4 cinnamon sticks
• 12 whole cloves
• Zest from 1/2 lemon
• 4 apples
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup cream sherry or port wine
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large sauce pan, pour in 2 pints of ale. Add the cinnamon sticks, lemon zest and cloves and bring to a simmer over low heat.

Take an apple, and score it with a knife around the circumference of the apple. Place in a baking dish. Repeat this step for all of the apples. Cover with one cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of ale and all of the sherry or port. Cover baking dish and place in oven, cooking for 30 minutes.

While apples are baking, place remaining sugar and spices into the sauce pan, ensuring it's well mixed.

When the apples are done baking, place the entire contents of baking dish into sauce pan. Gently simmer over a low heat for another 30-40 minutes. Do not boil.

Serve hot, one or two ladles into your favorite mug and slake your winter thirst like our forefathers did.

Serves 6-8; less if you can hold your liquor ~ wink-wink