Indulge in the rich and aromatic flavours of the holiday season with a classic Victorian recipe inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol – a hot cup of Smoking Bishop.
Victorian Mulled Wine Recipe
Smoking Bishop is best enjoyed as the snowflakes gently fall and the faint melody of carollers fills the air in quaint Victorian London. Made famous by Charles Dickens, this traditional Victorian mulled wine recipe is a delightful blend of red wine, Port wine, citrus fruits and spices. Part of the uniqueness of this Victorian tipple comes from the slow-roasted oranges studded with whole cloves
After his change of heart, Ebeneezer Scrooge is anxious to make things right with his long-suffering employee, Bob Cratchit. He suggests they talk over a steaming cup of smoking bishop. With roots dating back to the 18th century, smoking bishop was a favourite winter beverage in the Victorian era. A blend of red wine and Port is gently warmed with aromatic spices and roasted citrus for a tantalizing and warming libation.
"A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year! I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!"
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Ingredients
Oranges: Smoking bishop gets its distinctive flavour from roasting clove-studded oranges until well browned and juicy. The oranges are then juiced and added to the wine for a final steeping.
Cloves: Whole cloves have a pointed end that can easily pierce the orange rind. You should be able to push the whole cloves into the oranges with your thumb. If you find that too difficult, you can use a knife or skewer to poke a hole in the rind that you can use to insert the cloves.
Wine: This mulled wine beverage uses both red wine and a fortified Port wine. Choose moderately priced wine and Port for this recipe. All of the other competing flavours will somewhat cover up the flavour of the wine so there’s no need to use an expensive bottle.
How to Make Smoking Bishop Drink
Roast the oranges
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Push the whole cloves into the oranges. Reserve 6 or 7 cloves for the spiced syrup. Place the whole oranges into a baking dish and bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the peel has darkened and the oranges are soft to the touch. Let cool briefly before adding to the wine.
Make the spiced simple syrup
In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar. Add the whole spices, reserved cloves, and sliced ginger. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is completely dissolved. Turn down the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover. Let steep for 20 – 30 minutes and then strain the syrup. Discard the spices and ginger.
Steep the wine and Port
In a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat, add the red wine. Add roughly 3/4’s of the spiced syrup and stir to combine. Heat the wine until it is hot but not boiling. Cut the oranges in half and squeeze the juice into the wine. Add the orange halves to the wine followed by the Port.
Serve the Smoking Bishop
Heat the smoking bishop until it is hot but not boiling. Taste the smoking bishop, adding more of the spiced syrup if you prefer it sweeter. Pass the wine through a fine mesh strainer if desired, to remove any orange pulp. Ladle the smoking bishop into mugs to serve. Garnish with dried orange wheels and cinnamon sticks. Enjoy!
