Were you aware of it? vol. 13: Glögg

Glögg
Serves 6
For Finns, mulled wine isn’t good enough. They spike it with vodka, set it on fire, and call it glögg. This ice melter is sweet and spicy, with caramelized sugar and cardamom. It’s got nuts and raisins. It’s got an umlaut. What more could you want from a winter drink?

Ingredients
* 1/2 cup brandy
* 1 cup sugar cubes (actually, i'd recommend going easy on the sugar - half a cup should be PLENTY, although maybe if you actually set the stuff on fire, the sugar would chill out).
* 1 teaspoon cardamom seeds
* 5-6 whole cloves
* 1 orange, zested and sliced
* Cheesecloth
* 1 bottle dry red wine
* 2-3 tablespoons Madeira
* 1/4 cup vodka
* 1/3 cup raisins
* 1/4 cup blanched, slivered almonds (and feel free to go crazy with the almonds)
* 2 cinnamon sticks

Instructions
Pour brandy and sugar cubes into a small skillet. Set aside. Tie up cardamom, orange zest, and spices in cheesecloth and combine with wine, Madeira, raisins, and almonds in a roomy saucepan. Place over low heat.

When the wine begins to steam, set the brandy and sugar mixture over high heat. As soon as it comes to a vigorous simmer, kill the lights, strike a match, and set the sucker on fire. When the flames die down, pour the thick syrup into the hot wine and stir. Add the vodka and serve immediately in small mugs garnished with a cinnamon stick and orange slice.

**Courtesy of Galen Moore of ReadyMade