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Bishop

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description Bishop Overview

Bishop is a traditional wine-based punch associated with Britain and documented in drinking literature from at least the eighteenth century. Historical recipes vary, but commonly combine red wine or port with roasted or fresh citrus, sugar, and warming spices, and may be served hot. The drink belongs to a family of spiced punches with clerical names, including cardinal and pope, whose titles were linked to the colors of their wine bases.

help Bishop FAQ

What is traditionally in a Bishop cocktail?

Bishop is a wine-based punch that commonly uses red wine or port, citrus, sugar, and warming spices. Historical recipes vary, so the name does not identify one completely fixed formula.

Is Bishop the same as Smoking Bishop?

Smoking Bishop is a related hot punch that traditionally uses roasted citrus, red wine, port, sugar, and spices. It appears in Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, while Bishop recipes can also be served without the smoking-bishop preparation.

How do you make a documented historical-style Bishop punch?

One published recipe serves 10 with three Seville oranges, dry Portuguese red wine, sugar, cloves, star anise, cinnamon, and ruby port. It rests for 24 hours before being strained and warmed for serving.

Why is the drink called Bishop?

The name is associated with the drink's deep purple colour and with historical jokes about bishops' drinking habits, but the exact origin is uncertain. Bishop was already documented in British drinking literature by the eighteenth century.

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