My Bar Bible / Cocktails / Wassail

Wassail in a copper mug, drawn with its ingredient layers

Wassail recipe

BuiltCopper mugNo ice8% ABV

The Wassail is a built brandy cocktail, made with cider, brandy and honey syrup, served in a copper mug.

Strength: about 8.4% ABV in the glass, roughly 12 g of alcohol and about 150 calories per drink (an estimate; brands, sugar and dilution vary).

The old English toast for good apple harvests, drunk hot at Christmas.

Wassail ingredients

Cider150 ml (5 oz)
Brandy20 ml (¾ oz)
Honey syrup10 ml (¼ oz)
Cinnamon stick1 piece
Cloves3 pieces
Orange slices1 slice

Measures for one serve. Open the drink in Bar Bible to scale it to a batch or switch to ounces.

How to make a Wassail

  1. Warm everything in a pan without boiling.
  2. Pour into a warmed mug.
  3. Serve hot.
Glass
Copper mug
Ice
None
Garnish
Baked apple slice and cinnamon
Open Wassail in My Bar Bible

Wassail: quick answers

How strong is a Wassail?
About 8.4% alcohol once the ice has melted in, roughly 12 g of alcohol per drink. That is an estimate: brands and dilution vary.
How many calories are in a Wassail?
About 150 calories per drink, from the alcohol and the sweet and fresh ingredients. An estimate: brands and the amount of sugar change it. Compare every drink in the cocktail calorie chart.
What glass is a Wassail served in?
A copper mug, with no ice in the glass.
How many ingredients does a Wassail have?
6 in total: cider, brandy, honey syrup, cinnamon stick, cloves and orange slices. Simple enough to make at home.

Cocktail calorie chart: compare all 1,308 drinks

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