I like a nice red wine heated with mulling spices, but apple cider is also good fixed this way. For a party, you can serve it from a crock pot.

HOT MULLED WINE
Serves 6.

3 to 4-quart pot with heavy bottom
glass mugs

750 ml red wine (zinfandel or merlot)
1 cup (240 ml) water
1/4 cup (28 g) brown sugar
3 whole cloves
(Whole allspice)
2 cinnamon sticks
1 whole nutmeg, cracked open (or 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg)
1 orange, peeled in wide strips
1 lemon, peeled in wide strips
1 orange, thinly sliced

Combine the wine, water, sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and lemon and orange strips in the pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 20 minutes, then serve hot in mugs with slices of orange.

Hot Cranberry Cider

1 quart apple cider or juice
1 (32 ounce) bottle cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
8 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks

In a large saucepan, combine ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Remove spices. Serve warm.

Here is how to make your own mulling spice mix.

Mulling Spice Mix

3 boxes (1 ounce each) cinnamon sticks
6 whole nutmegs (1 ounce)
1/3 cup each chopped dried orange and lemon peel
1/4 cup each whole allspice and whole cloves
2 Tbs. finely chopped, crystallized ginger (1 ounce)

Cut doubled layers of cheesecloth into fourteen 5-inch squares. Have fourteen 10-inch-long pieces plain white string ready. Put cinnamon sticks and nutmegs in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin or a small heavy skillet until broken in small pieces. Mix with remaining ingredients. Tie 3 generous tablespoonsful in each cheesecloth square.

To mull wine, stir 1/2 cup water and 1/3 cup sugar in a 1-1/2 to 2-quart pan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add 3-1/4 cups wine and the spice bag. Reduce heat to low, cover and heat very gently until mixture is very hot but not boiling, about 20 minutes. Discard spice bag.

To mull cider, just add spice bag to 8 cups apple cider in a 2-1/2 to 3-quart pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 30 to 35 minutes. Discard spice bag.