1  bottle dry red wine
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 cup aquavit (caraway-flavored Swedish liquor), or gin or vodka
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon whole cardamom seeds
6  cloves
2  3-inch cinnamon sticks
2  pieces crystallized ginger, finely chopped
1/2 cup blanched whole almonds

Warm the wine, raisins, alcohol and sugar in a saucepan over low heat. Combine spices and peels in cheesecloth or a muslin bag and add to the saucepan. Simmer uncovered (don’t boil). Ladle into cups and add an almond or two to each.