We are still deep in the throes of winter, and few things are better than warming up with a cold-weather cocktail. Chilled, spritzy drinks will only make you miss summer and beach days. Instead, choose a fire-friendly cocktail from our recommendations below. They are sure to warm you up during these cold winter nights.
Spiked Apple Cider
The most apparent winter cocktail would be a spiked apple cider. This delicious cider can be dangerous because the mixture of hot cider flavors completely masks any trace of alcohol. The tart cider taste goes down easy and warms you from the inside out.
Ingredients:
- Two qt. apple cider
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 cup high-proof Bourbon
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. whole cloves
- Four cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp. nutmeg
Mix all of the other ingredients without the liquor and heat until boiling. Once the mixture comes to a boil, simmer for another 15 minutes. Finally, you can add your bourbon. Simmer some more, occasionally stir, and then strain the cider.
Irish Coffee
Another winter favorite is a good, strong Irish coffee, and the hardest part is checking to see if you have all the ingredients. This drink will warm you up and wake you up at the same time. If you are an iced coffee drinker, even in the winter, this is great on ice as well.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Irish cream liqueur
- 1.5 oz Irish whiskey
- 1 cup brewed coffee
- 1 tbsp. whipped cream
- One dash nutmeg
Mix all ingredients together and serve in your favorite mug!
Peach Cobbler
Like comfort food, there are certain cocktails that make us feel warm and fuzzy. This cocktail will deliver a similar feeling as comfort food does. It’s sweet and creamy and full of delicious peach and butterscotch flavor. It’s a great party drink that everyone will love.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 oz. peach schnapps
- 1/2 oz. butterscotch schnapps
- Splash of cinnamon schnapps
- Splash of cream
Put ice in a glass and pour the ingredients in. It’s as easy as that. You can always garnish with a peach slice for added appeal.
Hot Toddy
This winter cocktail was popular generations ago when slow-sipping whiskey was all the rage. If you want to enjoy it the way they did back in the day, leave out the simple syrup in this much sweeter, tastier version. Nothing will warm your blood and put you to bed on a cold winter’s night like a hot toddy. Instead of hot tea, next time, try a hot toddy. It also does wonders for the winter cold, making for a good night’s sleep.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup warm to hot water
- 1 to 1.5 ounces of whiskey, depending on how strong you want it
- 2 to 3 tsp. of honey
- 2 to 3 tsp. of lemon juice, fresh or bottled
- One cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon
Simmer water in a saucepan or tea kettle. Choose your favorite mug to pour water into. Add the whiskey and two teaspoons each of honey and lemon juice. Stir these ingredients until the honey has completely dissolved. Taste test to see if you would like to add the remaining honey or lemon juice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or dust with ground cinnamon. For even more sweetness, rim the glass with a drizzle of honey, so you get a little bit with every sip.
When it’s cold outside, stop by Payless Liquors and stock up on your favorite spirits to keep yours up during the long, harsh winter. Don’t forget, spring is just around the corner.
