Mulled Cider (and other festive drinks)

[Martynt74]

My wife no longer has the stomach for mulled wine after an "unpleasant" experience. However she loves Cider.

I've decided that tonight we should be festive. In the past i've bought a bottle of the premade mulled cider stuff (Think it was a Heston one).

However i'm looking to make my own and was after some advice. What cider is best to use? What spices do you stick in it (Cinnamon is given).

For the benefit of the group i will however open this up to conversation about all hot wintery drinks because i'm nice

 

[bsoltan]

I know it's not exactly what you are after but a friend made spiced apple with calvados a few weeks ago.
As simple as heating this:
https://groceries.morrisons.com/webshop/product/Morrisons-Mulled-Apple-100-Fruit-Juice/388726011
With added calvados.

Made a quick and easy mulled cidery drink.

If youre making your own and starting with cider don't cook it for too long as you'll cook off all the alcohol. Alternatively spice up some apple juice then combine with cider at the end and heat through.

Cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, (brown) sugar, ginger.

 

[JC]

We quite like a recipe from our Tom Kerridge cookbook - I believe it's the same one here though:

• 2 litres of quality cider
• 150g muscovado sugar
• 150ml dark rum
• 10 cardamom pods
• 1 cinnamon stick - broken up
• 3 fresh bay leaves
• 1 vanilla pod
• 4 star anise
• The peel of one orange
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon of dried juniper berries

https://recipesontv.co.uk/tom-kerridge-mulled-cider

Usually get bottled premium cider from any supermarket.