White Wine & Elderflower Gløgg

Throughout December, Scandinavians meet outside to drink hot gløgg and sing carols—it’s like a cocktail party in the snow. My neighbors and I do it almost every night. Red wine is traditional in this spiced wine punch, but I think white wine is a nice change of pace.

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  2 750-ml bottles dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
  
  


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  2 cups elderflower cordial
  
  


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  2 Tbs. granulated sugar
  
  


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  10 green cardamom pods
  
  


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  1-1/3 cups golden raisins
  
  


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  1 cup sliced almonds
  
  


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  1/4 cup Cognac
  
  

In a 4-quart pot, bring the wine, cordial, sugar, and cardamom pods to a simmer over mediumhigh heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Turn the heat down and gently simmer for 5 minutes. Discard the cardamom pods; add the raisins, almonds, and Cognac. Serve hot in small glasses with spoons for scooping up the raisins and almonds.