How to make Boilo, a traditional Pennsylvania coal region winter drink | On the Pennsylvania Road

What is Boilo?
Boilo is a winter staple in the coal regions of the Keystone State. A tradition that goes back a few hundred years.
It's an Americanized version of an Eastern European drink called Krumpnik that was popular during the holidays. But when the Eastern Europeans settled in the coal regions, they didn't have the resources to distill, so they came up with this version.
People continue to make Boilo and often give it to family and friends as holiday gifts.
Basic Boilo Ingredients:
1 bottle (750 ml) Four Queens (or clear moonshine if you can get it)
1 cup of honey (add more to taste up to 1 lb.)
1 large orange quartered
1 cinnamon stick (not ground cinnamon)
1-2 tablespoons of caraway seeds
12 peppercorns
1/4 cup dark brown sugar (add more to personal taste up to 3/4 cup)
Pinch of Allspice
Basic Boilo Instructions:
Pour entire bottle of Four Queens into stainless steel or enamel pot. warm over low heat uncovered. DO NOT LET IT COME TO A BOIL
When whiskey is warm, not hot:
Add honey
Add cinnamon stick and peppercorns as the mixture warms
Cut oranges into quarters (or eighths for more orange flavor) squeeze juice into mixture and drop squeezed quarters into pot.
Add sugar
Add caraway seeds
Stir mixture frequently until ingredients, particularly sugar and honey are blended increase heat BUT DO NOT LET IT COME TO A BOIL
Add extra honey and/or brown sugar if you think it needs to be smoother. Be careful not to make it too sweet. The Boilo will absorb sweetness and flavors as it heats and steeps later.
After heating for about 1/2 hour or so, taste it, and if you like it, turn down heat, cover pot, and let it steep for 5-10 minutes.
Then uncover pot and start taking out Orange quarters, squeeze them again into mixture and put aside the squeezed quartered oranges as treats for later, or eat them right away.
Take out Peppercorns and cinnamon stick
Strain mixture though strainer into original Four Queens bottle, or any appropriate bottle. Make sure the peppercorns and cinnamon stick are NOT in the bottle since their flavor will dominate.
The strainer will strain out most of the caraway and orange pulp. but I like to leave some residue in the bottle. Other people like to further strain it with cheesecloth to make a clearer Boilo but if left in the bottle, the residue of the ingredients will continue to infuse BOILO creating an ever developing wonderful flavor.
Serve right away, hot, and in small glasses, coffee cups, or nowadays there are specially crafted Boilo cups. Or put aside Boilo bottle for later. To reheat Boilo put the bottle itself into a small pot of water and heat the water on a stove top on medium to i heat. OR just microwave each cup. DO NOT LET IT BOIL
A Schuylkill County “couple” of thoughts:
1. Despite its name, the mixture should NEVER be BOILED. Low to medium heat is best to
make it.Higher heat to serve it.
2. Four Queens is a high proof whiskey, Boilo is meant to be sipped not guzzled, Great for
cold weather events but not as a preparation for driving or brain surgery
3. This is a basic recipe. There are as many variations and elaborations as there are boilo
makers ( not to be confused with “boilermakers”) . Experiment if you want to.
4. The point is to enjoy the process, the drink and the people you drink it with.
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[@68hotrodrs]

I’ll be making this !

[@wendystumpf1274]

One way to lessen the mess is to strain into a large pitcher then pour into the funnel into the bottle.

[@ParadigmShifted]

Sick? Stuffed up nose? Generally feel like you’re dying?? Shot of boilo and you’re back on top :)

[@DiviAugusti]

I never saw someone eat an orange peel before.

[@GinaTaglioli-vi5pn]

Quite good orange peels....you can burn them & add to cocktails or coat them in chocolate!!

[@goaheadmakemyday4200]

How long is it heated? Before a simmer, or luckwarm? I missed that part. How strong is Two Queens? Good for Holiday cheer thats for sure.

[@BrianHunteratHunterGraphics]

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