With our current arctic temperatures, there’s no better time to warm up with a great winter cocktail. There are more than a few ways to create the sensation of warmth, here are a few of our current favorites.
Hot Drinks
Of course, heat is one way to warm up! The vast majority of cocktails are served chilled, or even over ice, but there have always been hot drinks for the cold winter days. The most classic hot cocktail is the Hot Toddy:
Classic Hot Toddy
Most commonly made with whiskey, this cocktail combines sweet honey, bright lemon and rich spirits in a cozy winter hug of a drink.
2 oz Gin No. 6 (or Twisted Citrus Vodka, Malt Whiskey or Aquavit — Private Reserve), or 1.5 oz of American Whiskey (this year’s is 120 proof!)
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1½ oz Honey Simple
Hot Water
Add first 3 ingredients to a mug and top with hot water. Garnish with a wheel of lemon, and a cinnamon stick if you have one on hand.
(all recipes based on a 12 oz mug — adjust to size of mug used)
Jasmine Blossom
This riff on the hot toddy is a bit floral, yet warming, bright & delicious
2 oz Gin No. 11
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1-1/2 oz Jasmine Tea Simple
Hot Water
Add first 3 ingredients to a 12 oz mug and top with hot water. Stir & garnish with a lemon wheel or two.
Hot G&T
Technically this one isn’t a Hot Toddy, but if you can get your hands on a bottle of this uniquely flavored syrup, make the hot version of another classic!
2 oz Gin No. 11
1 oz Tomr’s Tonic Syrup
4½ oz Hot Water
Lime Wheel or Wedge
Add gin and tonic syrup to a mug, add hot water. Stir well, and garnish with lime wedge or wheel. (We recommend squeezing it in, but you do what you want!)
Spirited Sippers
When warming cocktails are on the mind, we often think of the more spirited styles of cocktails, where there aren’t as many non-spirit ingredients. Here are a few new favorites this year.
Remember the Way
This riff on the Remember the Maine (which is a take on the Manhattan) features three of our spirits! It is definitely spirited, and also layered, intriguing and delicious.
In a Mixing glass, stir:
2 oz American Whiskey
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth (we use Carpano Antica Formula)
1/8 oz North Shore Curaçao
1/4 oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
Stir ingredients well with ice, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a swath of orange peel expressed on the top, then added to the glass.
Old Pal
A delightful riff on the Boulevardier, with dry vermouth instead of sweet – this one really surprised us, and we love it!
1 oz American Whiskey
1 oz Campari
1 oz Dry Vermouth (we use Noilly Prat)
Stir with ice, strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist, or an orange one.
Rich Spices
Those warming winter spices won’t literally warm you up, but they will provide a sense of warmth and coziness that is a great remedy for chilly nights. Here are some of our favorite spiced sippers:
The Velveteen Rabbit
The ultimate comfy, cozy sipper; pair with flannel pjs, a roaring fire and your favorite feel-good movie*.
1½ oz North Shore Vodka
¾ oz Half & Half or Heavy Cream
½ oz Coffee Liqueur (we prefer Mr Black)
½ oz Winter Spice Simple (or Chai Simple)
Shake ingredients with ice, then strain into a chilled rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
*fun fact: this cocktail was based on the White Russian, which was popularized in The Big Lebowski!
Norwegian Bear Hug
This cocktail definitely lives up to the name, with layers on layers on layers of winter spices, held together by warm honey.
2 oz Aquavit-Private Reserve
3/4 oz Spiced Honey Syrup
¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
2 drops Peychaud’s Bitters
Shake first four ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled coupe glass or over rocks into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.
Fly by Night
Building on NSD Malt Whiskey’s rich spice, honey & nuttiness, this cocktail builds a luxuriously frothy version of a winter warmer.
2 oz Malt Whiskey
¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
¾ oz Honey Simple
1 oz Egg White
1 dash Angostura bitters in the shaker, 1-2 dashes on top
Shake ingredients without ice, then add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass & garnish with bitters on top, swirled into a pattern.
