This slow cooker spiced mulled wine is perfect for large holiday gatherings. So warm and comforting it’s bound to be the drink of the season. Plus it’s kept warm all night long by heating in the slow cooker. 

I remember when I was a kid my parents would throw these awesome holiday parties that involved lots of drinking and playing of cards, usually euchre.

I always wanted to join in on the fun and play cards too, BUT let us face it – no group of adults really want to hang out with a little kid.

So I did the next best thing. I would go upstairs and look down into the living through my heater vent. (We had an old house that vents that went all the way through the floor so the hot air from downstairs would go upstairs.)

So I would lay down and listen in on the whole party. I would hear my parents telling dirty jokes* and in general just having a good time with their friends.

*True story: When I was little I was spying on my parents and heard them tell a joke to their friends. It was something dirty that had something to do with an elephant.

So in true Brandy fashion, I went to school and told EVERYONE this joke (including the teacher) not really knowing what I was talking about. Then my teacher had to call my parents and tell them all about how I came to school telling a very inappropriate joke that had something to do with an elephant and if I had to assume probably penises.

I can only imagine what it was like to be my parent.

I remembered thinking how awesome it must be to be an adult and how much I couldn’t wait to throw my own holiday parties.

Well now that I’m an adult I throw my parties, but with a little less dirty jokes (ok that’s not true. I love me some dirty jokes) and a lot less cigarette smoking.

What was up with all the smoking in the ’80s? But you know what remains the same? There is always spiced mulled wine.

Side note: there is also always aged eggnog. Christmas cocktails are the best.

When it’s 20 degrees outside, I need something warm and boozy. This cocktail is just that.

I took a dark red wine and threw in all the winter spices – star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and just a touch of nutmeg. Plus, I threw in a little citrus because citrus makes everything better. Am I right?

To keep it warm, I love keeping it in a slow cooker so it can be enjoyed warm all. night. long.

More holiday cocktail recipes

• Want something totally different? Try my Aged Eggnog.
• Craving an old fashioned cocktail? Try my Tom and Jerry Cocktail Recipe.
• Need an easy holiday cocktail? Try my Eggnog Martini.
• Want to try to make mulled wine the old fashioned way? Try my Holiday Spiced Mulled Wine.