What could be better than a hot, spiced mug of cheer on a cold winter night?  We make this every Christmas in a crockpot, and just ladle it out over the Christmas holidays as needed.

Place in crockpot:
1 litre apple juice
Spice ball*

*You can put these items into a piece of cheesecloth, a large tea ball or a paper coffee/tea paper filter folded and fastened/tied together:
1 T. nutmeg or crushed nutmeg pieces
1 t. ground ginger, or 1 inch ginger pieces
1/2 t. ground mace
5 whole cloves
5 whole allspice
1-2 sticks cinnamon

Let simmer for several hours until apple juice is nicely flavoured & the house smells wonderful!
Remove spice ball and add:
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brandy
4 tins/bottles beer (if you can manage to use Adnams Ale, you’re REALLY traditional!**)
1/2 bottle sherry

Continue to heat in crock pot until ingredients are warm.  Taste to adjust sugar, seasoning (add spice ball back in if more flavour needed, but don’t let it sit in there too long or spices may become bitter!)

You can float dried apples or cranberries in the pot as well, or serve in the glass.
Ladle into mugs as needed to ward off the cold of winter and enjoy the Christmas season!

**There is no know relationship between Adnams Breweries and our family name…but their ale and beer are still great!