Sunday, January 8, 2012

Warming Things Up

For many of us the winter has been unseasonably and somewhat unreasonably warm so far. Do not let the lack of snow and spring-like temps fool you, because it is winter and Mother Nature will be reminding us of that soon. In preparation for the inevitable, I wanted to share some warm drinks that are ideal for evenings when the temperature is barely tolerable.

Mulled Spice Cheribundi - Cherry juice and bourbon make up the base for this winter warmer that is designed to be shared with friends and few drinks are better after a long day out in the cold. The 'traditional' winter spices add a bit of interest, but the ingredient here that I think makes the drink really stand out is the root beer, which is warmed right alongside everything else.

The Snow Honey - Warm milk has never been on the top of my list of must-have drinks and for many years of my childhood the thought was repulsing unless it was enhanced with a whopping amount of chocolate. Though, as I've aged so have my tastes (thankfully) and the soothing aspects of a hot milk drink before bed have won me over. I finally get what grandma was talking about, but I still think milk needs a little enhancement such as the clover honey and Courvoisier that this drink? uses.

Brotherly Love - Something magical happens when gin makes an appearance in hot cocktails. The botanicals of the spirit take on a new life and infuse the senses with an intensity that cannot be found in chilled gin. In this drink there are even more aromatics from the Licor 43, with the vanilla and citrus notes rising out most prominently. Milk makes another appearance here and all of this combined makes a truly delicious drink.

Winter Hill - This drink by James Pierce quickly rose to the top of my cherished winter cocktails. The citrus and bourbon accented with chocolate bitters in a steaming brew is relaxing, revitalizing combination that is the epitome of what is so great about hot mixed drinks.

Browse more warm cocktails...

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