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[occams_razor]

The caraway seeds, cardamom seeds, cloves, cinnamon stick, orange peel, almonds and raisins go in a piece of cheese cloth. I think the high falutin would call this a bouquet garni. You mix up the cognac and the brown sugar in a small pan and flame it.

Put the wine, port, aquavit, and some honey in a large sauce pan on the lowest simmer wit the cheesecloth thingie.. Add the carmelized sugar/brandy mix (after the flame is out and it's cooled a little) and wait 20-25 minutes for it to come up to temp. Serve hot in coffee cups. Really takes the chill out.

I forgot a few ingredients first time around. It's really delicious but packs a heck of a punch. Wine bottles can store any leftovers (lol) for several weeks.

ingredients

1 pint (350 ml) brandy or cheap cognac
1.5 litre bottle of inexpensive dry red wine
1.5 litre bottle of inexpensive port
1 fifth (750 ml) bottle aquavit
i/2 cup honey
1 cup brown sugar
1 small box raisins
5 cinnamon sticks
1/2 tablespoon cardamom seeds
1/2 tablespoon caraway seeds
30 cloves
Peel of two oranges, zest only. Use grater or zester if you aren't good with knife.
1/2 cup blanched almonds

Aquavit is good from the freezer too, but I like the taste of caraway seeds.