O. K. Christiansen's Holiday Glogg

While this is a Swedish recipe, Dad (Mike Hinko) made this. He and Mom would have Glogg parties.  The Glogg parties stemmed from those that his good friend, the late Jim Christiansen, would have at Christmastime.

This drink is potent! One small cup will produce a buzz. Two will make you slur your words. If you have a Glogg party, have designated drivers to take people home. Or, set up cots for overnight guests.

O. K. Christiansen's Holiday Glogg

8 cinnamon sticks
12 whole cloves
112 sugar loaves
Almond extract
Cheese cloth bags
2 gallon kettle with cover
Small frying pan
Wooden spoon
1 pound seeded raisins
60 cardamom seeds
1/5 190-proof grain alcohol
1 gallon California port wine
1 pint Hennessy brandy

Place in cooking vessel with spices and raisins in bags:
1 pound seeded raisins
12 whole cloves
60 cardamom seeds (open shells and put both shells and kernels in mixture)
8 cinnamon sticks (broken)
80 sugar loaves

Procedure:
Pour in enough water to barely cover the above ingredients. Allow to simmer (with cover on) for 1 hour to extract flavor from spices. Pour in 1 gallon port wine, 1/5 190-proof grain alcohol, and 1 pint brandy. Replace cover and raise flame. Let come to a boil. While this is coming to a boil, take small frying pan, and in it slowly burn 32 loaves of white loaf sugar until a dark brown. By this time the mixture should be boiling; add the burnt sugar and stir with wooden spoon until there is no more sugar coating on the spoon.

Turn off the fire, take cover off and light the mixture, allowing it to burn for about 6 seconds. Then put the cover back on to extinguish; add 2 teaspoons of almond extract.

Let cool. Strain through cheese cloth. Squeeze out juices thoroughly.

Skal!!!

Sandra's Note:
As I recall, you warm the Glogg before serving it. Put 1 blanched almond and a few raisins in the bottom of a small cup and pour the Glogg over these.

Sandra's Note:
You can find sugar loaves from Domino Sugar. They are called sugar tablets. According to the Domino website, each rectangular tablet contains 1 teaspoon of sugar. So, you can do the math and use granulated sugar if needed. However, part of the fun in making the Glogg is counting out the sugar loaves.