Ingredient

Star Anise

A striking eight-pointed pod with a sweet-liquorice perfume — visual and aromatic in mulled drinks and modern winter sours.

Flavour profile

  • Liquorice
  • Sweet
  • Anise-like
  • Subtle in heat
  • Visually distinctive
Star Anise as a winter cocktail ingredient

Star anise is the spice that does extra work as a garnish — those eight-pointed pods look perfect floating in a warm mug. Flavour-wise it sits between fennel and liquorice, which is gentler than it sounds; one whole star is plenty in a single serve, two or three in a pan of mulled wine. Crushed star anise releases more flavour fast but loses the look.

Recipes featuring star anise

Star anise rum sour in a coupe glass with a thin lime wheel and whole star anise pod resting on top, warm amber colour.
Spiced Cocktails

Star Anise Rum Sour

A dark rum sour with bright lime, homemade star anise syrup and a few dashes of Angostura, delivering a fragrant, lightly liquorice winter cocktail.

Total 5 minutes
A pan and glass of mulled wine with orange zest, cinnamon sticks and bay leaves
Mulled Drinks

Mulled Wine

The English Christmas classic — red wine warmed with citrus, sugar and winter spice, often lifted with a measure of brandy or port.

Total 35 minutes
A glass mug of deep-red glühwein with an orange slice, cinnamon stick and star anise
Mulled Drinks

Glühwein

The classic German mulled wine — red wine gently warmed with orange, cinnamon and clove. The defining drink of the Christmas market.

Total 40 minutes
A pan of spiced red wine with a flaming rum-soaked sugarloaf dripping caramelised sugar into it.
Mulled Drinks

Feuerzangenbowle

A dramatic German mulled wine where a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set alight, dripping caramelised rum into spiced red wine below.

Total 25 minutes