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Boilo (Spiced whisky with citrus and ginger)

Boilo (Spiced whisky with citrus and ginger)

Drinks

A traditional Christmas drink in the United States, rich in citrus fruits and spices, served hot in mugs.

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Recipe from Kittycataclysm, Mike Hayes, Uncle G's 'bot~enwikibooks and 9 other contributors (Wikibooks), adapted by Recette de cuisine · · updated on

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Boilo is a traditional Christmas drink, popular in the northeastern United States, particularly in Pennsylvania. It is a liqueur made with whiskey, along with oranges, lemons, sugar, and various spices, such as cinnamon. Recipes vary and may include nutmeg, cloves, caraway seeds, and anise.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time30 min
  • Cook time2 hr
  • Resting1 hr
  • Total3 hr 30 min
  • DifficultyMedium
  • CostBudget
  • Cooking methodslow cooking
  • Estimated cost$5.21 $0.43 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 7, 2026.

Ingredients

12 people
  • $1.07
  • $0.56
  • $0.16
  • $2.70
  • $0.72

Prices from US supermarkets for 3 of 5 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Peel the oranges and lemons. ≈ 8 min
  2. Cut the fruit into pieces and press them into a pot. ≈ 8 min
  3. A garlic press or potato masher can be used, or any other juicer or fruit extraction device. ≈ 3 min
  4. Also, add the remaining fruit pulp to the pot. ≈ 3 min
  5. Add the grapes, honey, and spices. ≈ 3 min
  6. Mix. ≈ 4 min
  7. Don’t add the whisky yet! ≈ 3 min
  8. Begin cooking the mixture in the pot, and allow it to simmer for approximately 2 to 4 hours.
  9. Stir occasionally. ≈ 4 min
  10. The preparation is complete when the fruit pulp is fully cooked. ≈ 3 min
  11. Pour in a pitcher. ≈ 3 min
  12. Crush the fruit in the sieve to extract all the juice. ≈ 4 min
  13. Add the whisky to the pitcher and stir. ≈ 4 min
  14. If you heat whisky, even for a short period, the alcohol will begin to evaporate.
  15. Taste and add more whisky to your liking. ≈ 2 min
  16. Serve hot in small glasses, espresso cups, or coffee mugs. ≈ 2 min
  17. After the first portion, each individual portion can be reheated in the microwave.

The bill

Boilo (Spiced whisky with citrus and ginger)

  • 2 medium to large oranges$1.07
  • 2 lemons$0.56
  • 1 small box (approximately 40g) of grapes$0.16
  • 225 g (approximately 220 grams) of honey$2.70
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of each of the following spices, or a combination of them: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, caraway seeds, anise$0.72

Total$5.21

that's $0.43 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Equipment

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Before you start

Ingredients

  • 2 medium to large oranges
  • 2 lemons
  • 1 small box (approximately 40g) of grapes
  • 225 g (approximately 220 grams) of honey
  • 355 ml of whisky, or more, depending on preference.
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of each of the following spices, or a combination of them: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, caraway seeds, anise

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