Smoking
Bishop
Mulled Wine

Mulled Wine History Victorian Town

Smoking Bishop Mulled Wine Recipe
The Charles Dickens Story – Initial Facts

The term “Smoking Bishop” is referenced in the Charles Dickens classic novel “A Christmas Carol”.

  • The term “Smoking Bishop” is referenced in the Charles Dickens classic novel “A Christmas Carol”.
  • This book was first published back on the 19th December 1843.
  • The very first edition of the novel was sold out by Christmas Eve.
  • Within the entire book “A Christmas Carol” the term “Smoking Bishop” is only every referenced broadly once as follows:
  • “A merry Christmas, Bob!” said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. “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! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!”
  • Charles Dickens is talking about Mulled Wine and within the book he refers to it as Smoking Bishop.
  • The name comes from the medieval tradition of serving spiced wine in bowls shaped like a bishop’s miter.
  • The original recipe of Smoking Bishop is not known, but there are many versions that have been developed over the years.
  • Since 1843 a common smoking bishop recipe has evolved and below is the most widely used:

Smoking Bishop Recipe:

 

Ingredients: (Serving for 4 People):

  • 1 x Bottle of Red Wine
  • A Splash of Ruby Port
  • 6 x Whole Cloves
  • 1 x Cinnamon Quill (around 5 to 6 cm in length)
  • 1/4 Teaspoon of Allspice
  • 1/2 cup of Sugar
  • 3 or 4 Sliced Oranges

The Method (around 15 mins)

  • Into a large pan, empty the whole bottle of red wine and add a large splash of ruby red port.
  • Place the pan over a gentle heat and start warming the red wine and the ruby port.
  • When the red wine and the ruby port is getting warm, add in the whole cloves, the cinnamon quill, allspice and sugar.
  • Gently stir the pan until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is heated through (but not boiling).
  • Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture fuse together for around 10 minutes (stirring occasionally).
  • Serve the mixture into 4 heat proof glasses or your favourite mug. Add an additional slice of orange to garnish (optional).

Mulled Wine in other Countries

CountryWine Name
BulgariaГреяно вино (Greyano vino)
CroatiaKuhano vino
Czech RepublicSvařené víno
DenmarkGløgg
FinlandGlögi
FranceVin Chaud
GermanyGlühwein
HungaryForralt bor
ItalyVin brûlé
NorwayGløgg
PolandGrzane wino or grzaniec
PortugalVinho Quente
RomaniaVin fiert
RussiaGlintvein
SerbiaKuvano vino
SloveniaKuhano Vino
SpainVino caliente or vino especiado
SwedenGlögg
TurkeySıcak şarap
United KingdomMulled Wine

Brief History of Mulled Wine

Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas. The first record of wine being spiced and heated can be found in Plautus’s play Curculio, written during the 2nd century BC.

The Romans travelled across Europe, conquering much of it and trading with the rest. The legions brought wine and viticulture with them up to the Rhine and Danube rivers and to the Scottish border, along with their recipes

Mulled wine really took off in popularity during the Middle Ages. In the 12th century, a drink called “spicy wine” first emerged in France and Spain thanks to the Romans. The drink moved north and spread to England in the 13th century. In the 13th century, it is thanks to the spice port of Latte, located next to Montpellier, that this way of drinking wine became widespread. The fame of mulled wine was such that even the King of England at the time, Henry III, drank it at his table.

The common perception of mulled wine today comes from Victorian England. Despite the prudish outlook on life, mulled wine was a fine and dandy holiday season drink (in moderation). Charles Dickens even wrote about a version of mulled wine called Smoking Bishop in his 1843 novel “A Christmas Carol”. Smoking Bishop is a type of mulled wine or punch, especially popular in Victorian England at Christmas time. Smoking Bishop was made from port, red wine, lemons or Seville oranges, sugar, and spices such as cloves.

Smoking Bishop is a member of a group of drinks called the Ecclesiastics that became popular in the 19th century. They were punches with names such as the Pope, the Cardinal, the Archbishop and, of course, the Bishop.

For more information please visit our mulled wine history page.

More information can be on Wikipedia.

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