Boilo

Hello Again!

It’s a beautiful snowy Saturday in December, and Dustin and I have decided to make some Boilo. It’s a tradition up here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and being that we LOVE taking traditional recipes and putting our own spin on it, we thought this once would be perfect to add to the list.

Boilo is a traditional holiday drink and, actually, is claimed to have healing qualities for the sniffles or the flu. Honestly, it’s probably because of all the alcohol in the recipe.

Dustin and his family have been making Boilo for at least the last eighty years. It originated in the coal mine region of Pennsylvania, and the recipe did evolve a bit since the original, but only to enhance the flavor. Back then, money was tight, so it was made with only a few ingredients.

It’s wonderful if heated up just slightly, so the alcohol doesn’t cook out. Dustin even brings warm Boilo in a Stanley thermos to nip on while riding up the lift when he goes skiing.

This is definitely a great drink for the holiday season.

You will surely grow to love this drink, just as I have.

Ingredients:

3 Pepper Corns
8 Cloves
2 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Tsp Fennel
18 oz. Honey
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Dark Brown Sugar
4 Cinnamon Sticks
5 Star Anise
1 Tbsp Caraway Seeds
2 Lemons
1 Orange (We used a Naval Orange so there weren’t any seeds.)
2 Bottles of Four Queens Whiskey, 101 Proof
2 Cups Everclear, 190 Proof
8 1/2 cups of Water
1 Cup Orange Juice, without pulp
1 Tbsp Fresh Ginger, peeled and quartered
4 Cups of Apple Cider
Tea Steeper

Directions:

In a large, clean stock pot, add 8 1/2 cups of water and 4 cups of Apple Cider.
Add 18 oz. of honey to the pot and heat on low.
Add 3 pepper corns.
Slice the 2 lemons in half, squeeze the juice into the pot, and add the lemon rinds to the pot, as well, making sure to strain out the pits.
Slice the orange in half, squeeze the juice into the pot, and add the rinds to the pot.
Stir occasionally.
Add 1 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
Add 5 Star Anise.
Turn the heat up so the Boilo simmers.
Add 4 cinnamon sticks.
Add 8 cloves.
Add 1/4 tsp. fennel and 1 tbsp caraway seeds to the tea steeper and place in the pot. Make sure it is closed all the way before adding the steeper to the Boilo.
Add 1/2 tsp of nutmeg to the pot.
Add 1 tbsp ground coarse cinnamon to the pot.
Add 1 cup of orange juice.
Add 1 tbsp of fresh ginger to the pot.
Simmer the Boilo for 1/2 hour.
Turn the burner off and allow the Boilo to cool completely. *NOTE* If the entire base isn’t cooled before adding the alcohol, you will end up flashing it.
Once the Boilo is cooled, add the 2 Bottles of Four Queens Whiskey, 101 Proof.
Add 2 Cups Everclear, 190 Proof.
Using a cheese cloth, strain the Boil in either Mason jars or liquor bottles and keep in a cool place.

See photos below for examples:

In a large, clean stock pot, add 2 liters of water and 4 cups of Apple Cider.
Add 18 oz. of honey to the pot and heat on low.
Add 3 pepper corns.

Slice the 2 lemons in half, squeeze the juice into the pot, and add the lemon rinds to the pot, as well, making sure to strain out the pits.
Slice the orange in half, squeeze the juice into the pot, and add the rinds to the pot.
Stir occasionally.

Add 1 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
Add 5 Star Anise.
Turn the heat up so the Boilo simmers.

Add 4 cinnamon sticks.
Add 8 cloves.

Add 1/4 tsp. fennel and 1 tbsp caraway seeds to the tea steeper and place in the pot. Make sure it is closed all the way before adding the steeper to the Boilo.

Add 1/2 tsp of nutmeg to the pot.
Add 1 tbsp ground coarse cinnamon to the pot.
Add 1 cup of orange juice.
Add 1 tbsp of fresh ginger to the pot.
Simmer the Boilo for 1/2 hour.
Turn the burner off and allow the Boilo to cool completely. *NOTE* If the entire base isn’t cooled before adding the alcohol, you will end up flashing it.
Once the Boilo is cooled, add the 2 Bottles of Four Queens Whiskey, 101 Proof.
Add 2 Cups Everclear, 190 Proof.
Using a cheese cloth, strain the Boil in either Mason jars or liquor bottles and keep in a cool place.

Enjoy!