Classic Swedish Mulled Wine

Start by preparing the orange. Using a vegetable peeler or a small knife, carefully remove the zest from the orange in long strips. Be sure to avoid the bitter white pith underneath. Set the zest aside for now.

Pour the entire bottle of red wine into a large, sturdy pot or saucepan. Add the caster sugar, the orange zest strips, the cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger slices, and the raisins or sultanas. Give everything a good stir to help the sugar dissolve.

Place the pot over medium-low heat. Warm the mixture gently for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. It's very important that the wine does not come to a boil; you just want it to be hot and steaming, which will allow the flavors to infuse without cooking off the alcohol.

Once the glögg is hot and fragrant, remove it from the heat. Stir in the vodka or aquavit. Let it sit for a minute to blend the flavors.

To serve, pour the warm glögg into mugs or heatproof glasses. You can strain out the spices and zest if you prefer a clear drink, or leave them in for a more rustic presentation. The soaked raisins and almonds make for a delicious, edible garnish at the bottom of each cup.