Warm Vanilla Wassail with Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Don Q rum. All opinions are 100% mine.

This time of year all I can think about is how to get the bone-chilling cold feelings out of my mind. It is about now I switch from crisp, cool wine to full-bodied red wines. It is also when I start pulling out the crock pot to make warm drinks that I can top off with a little boozy warmth too. This warm vanilla wassail is a sweet combination of apple cider, pineapple juice, orange and vanilla bean. Topped off with Don Q oak barrel spiced rum and you have a warm and spicy drink.

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Warm Vanilla Wassail

The ingredients are basic. However, I will tell you, you need a 7 or 8-quart pot to make this work. You can simmer this in a crock pot or on the stove. I used a full gallon of apple cider and a big can of pineapple juice to make this delicious combination. I also add a few orange slices but you could absolutely add a cup of orange juice to the crock pot. I just didn’t have any. The secret to this recipe is the vanilla beans though I sliced open vanilla beans, scraped the seeds out and stirred them into the juices as well as letting the beans themselves simmer in the crock pot. While the juices warmed up, let’s discuss how to make this even warmer.

Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum

Raise your hand if you love some spiced rum. Yes!! Me too. I love it just mixed in cola or ginger ale but man does it do magical things to the flavors of fall. When I got my hands on this beautiful bottle of Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced rum I was like a girl in the candy store. Or rather one excited girl in the liquor store. I really am a believer in letting good booze age. Good wine gets better with age, and boy does rum too! This rum has aged three years in oak barrels giving it a smooth yet smoky flavor mixed in with the spices. With the pop of the cork lid, I knew Don Q and I were going to be fast friends. This rum is exceptional aged Puerto Rican rum. As I learned about Don Q rums I learned this is a craft rum aged to exceptional smoothness. I couldn’t wait for the wassail to get done slowly warming up so I can have my first taste of this special spiced rum. Once the warm vanilla wassail was hot, I served up mugs of wassail. Then added shots of the Don Q spiced rum to the mugs for the farmer and me while the kids enjoyed some plain wassail. To take the spiked wassail up another notch, I drench the mugs in whipped cream and drizzled caramel ice cream topping over top of the whipped cream. The results of these flavor combinations were nothing short of spectacular. Your next holiday gathering will have your friends so impressed with your decadent warm wassail while everyone raves over the smoothness of your new favorite spiced rum from Don Q. Be sure to find a location near you to pick up a bottle of Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced rum.

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Warm Vanilla Wassail with Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum

Warm Vanilla Wassail is a sweet combination of apple cider, pineapple juice, orange and vanilla bean. Topped off with Don Q oak barrel spice rum and you have a warm and spicy drink.

Servings: 12 servings

Author: Leah @ Farmwife Drinks

Ingredients

• 1 gallon apple cider
• 1 can pineapple juice
• 2 oranges separated into sections
• 2 whole vanilla beans
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 bottle Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum
• 1 can whipped cream optional
• 1 jar caramel ice cream sauce optional

Instructions

1. Pour juices, cinnamon sticks, oranges, vanilla extract into crock pot.

2. Cut open vanilla bean and scrape vanilla out and put into crock pot. Place cut beans in as well. Stir to combine.

3. Heat on high for two hours or until the wassail is warm

4. When completely hot, pour into mugs leaving room for a shot of rum and then top off with whipped cream and drizzle caramel sauce over top.