Willy Willoughby'sWonderful Wassail

  Legend says this is where the first drunken sailor started - actually a deck hand on a fishing schooner was washed over board during a Nor' East wind.  Lucky for him (because the rest of the crew was never found - the ship was dashed against a submerged reef!)  The lone sailor was saved by a mermaid - she brought him to her secret cove; there she served him this fabulous elixer - which has become a favorite of many an old salt on the eastern sea board.

1 gallon apple cider
2 quarts apricot nectar
3 cups dark rum
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
6 (3") sticks of cinnamon
3 small oranges
2 teasponns of whole cloves

Combine cider, nectar, rum, brown sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon sticks in large dutch oven and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for an hour.  Stud oranges with cloves, and add to cider mixture.  Serve hot.  Yield 1 1/2 gallons.
 

Please don't drink and navigate!