Wassail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/13/21
Wassail punch recipes

The Spruce / Teena Agnel

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 15 servings
Yield: 1/2 gallon
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
144 Calories
1g Fat
21g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 15
Amount per serving
Calories 144
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 49mg 16%
Sodium 654mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 134mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Wassail is a traditional holiday punch that has been served for centuries. It is a comforting drink which families would serve to carolers and other visitors during the Christmas season. The tradition of going house to house to visit like this is known as wassailing and groups often spent an entire day or evening making their rounds.

There are many recipes for wassail and each variation has been adapted through the years. The ingredients differ by using a variety of spirits and types of wine including brandy, port, rum, and sherry. Some use beer while others prefer an apple cider base. Most wassails are very tasty and which to use is left up to personal preference.

This particular recipe is most likely a very traditional one. It uses a considerable amount of dry sherry, a little brandy, and the usual holiday season spices. Egg yolks and whites are also added, which give it an eggnog-like character that's rather enjoyable in the hot punch. It makes about 15 4-ounce servings, enough for a nice holiday gathering.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water

  • 2 cinnamon sticks

  • 5 to 6 whole cloves

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 2 (750-milliliter) bottles dry sherry

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1/2 cup brandy

  • 3 large egg yolks

  • 6 large egg whites

  • Apple slices, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for wassail punch
    The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  2. In a saucepan, combine the water and spices. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, without allowing it to reach a boil. Stir occasionally.

    Combine water and spices
    The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  3. Add the sherry and sugar and continue to heat and stir for a few minutes, ensuring the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from the heat.

    Add sherry and sugar
    The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  4. In small bowl, beat the egg yolks. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl.

    Beat egg yolks
    The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  5. Stir the warm sherry mix and egg yolks together in a heat resistant punch bowl or wassail bowl.

    Stir in warm sherry
    The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  6. Add the brandy.

    Add brandy
    The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  7. Whisk in the egg whites until foamy.

    Whisk in egg whites
    The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  8. Garnish the punch bowl with apple or other fruit slices.

    Garnish punch bowl
    The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  9. Serve and enjoy.

    Wassail punch
    The Spruce / Teena Agnel

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs poses a risk of food-borne illness.

Recipe Variation

Another popular rendition of wassail features beer and rum. It may not be quite as traditional as the sherry and brandy mix, but it is still an old recipe that's quite delicious. It makes about 17 4-ounce servings.

  • To make it, pour 3 12-ounce bottles of lager, 5 ounces of simple syrup, 3 ounces of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon each of grated nutmeg and ginger into a large saucepan. Warm on low heat for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and taking care not to let it boil. Add 1 750ml bottle of rum and stir. Place slices of fruit (e.g., apple, lemon, orange) in a heat resistant punch bowl or wassail bowl. Pour the warm liquid into the prepared bowl and serve in punch cups.

How Strong Is Wassail?

Looking at these two versions of wassail, you might expect that the one made with a full bottle of rum would be stronger than the two-bottle sherry recipe. However, both recipes have an average alcohol content of 17 percent ABV (34 proof). That is a little strong for a punch, but it's not too potent, either. It's actually just a little stronger than the average glass of wine.