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Top 5 Hot Alcoholic Drinks
The Top 5 Hot Drinks for Cold Weather
When it’s snowing outside and the temperatures dip below the freezing point, there’s nothing nicer than coming back indoors and enjoying a nice hot beverage. Instead of having a regular cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate, why not jazz things up a bit with one of our top five hot cocktails?
5. Blueberry Tea
This drink is an old-fashioned, sophisticated classic; while present-day bartenders may not be familiar with it, the recipe is easy enough to describe and it can be made at home in a jiffy.
1 brandy snifter (a footed glass with a large bowl), with a sugared rim
1 ounce Grand Marnier
1 ounce Amaretto
Hot black tea, unsweetened (orange pekoe or Assam black tea work best)
Slice of orange for garnish
For maximum aroma and flavor, first warm the glass by pouring in hot (not boiling) water, and let it sit for a minute or two, then empty out the water and sugar the rim. Pour in the Grand Marnier, Amaretto, and fill the glass with the hot brewed tea. Garnish with a slice of orange. Perfect for those who want a winter warmer that isn’t heavy with cream or other thick liquids. The caffeine from the tea will also work as a pick-me-up to help you recover from the cold.
For an extra special treat, use Earl Grey tea instead of a plain black version. Herbal tea may also be used.
4. Spanish Coffee
This timeless after-dinner dessert drink also is perfect after an evening walk in the snow or cold weather. To get the best flavors, only use freshly brewed drip coffee because instant coffee will taste somewhat metallic.
1 coffee mug or pousse-cafe glass, with a sugared rim
1 ounce Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
1 ounce white or silver unaged rum (Bacardi works best)
Black, freshly brewed coffee
Whipped cream
Orange slice for garnish
Warm the coffee mug first by pouring some hot water in it and leaving it for about 30 seconds. Remove the water, sugar the rim, and add the Kahlua and Bacardi rum. Fill the mug with hot black coffee, and top with whipped cream. Garnish with an orange.
To make the Spanish Coffee a bit more elaborate, drizzle some Kahlua over top of the whipped cream and add a maraschino cherry.
3. Hot Toddy
A favorite with the older generation, this is a beautiful hot drink that should not be ignored by the younger crowd. The combination of spices and hard liquor will warm you up, and anecdotal evidence exists that a hot toddy can help alleviate some of the symptoms of a common cold.
1 coffee mug or pousse-cafe glass
1 ounce blended whisky
2 teaspoons honey (add more to taste)
2 cloves
1 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
1 slice of lemon
Hot water
In a pot, boil the water with the spices and slice of lemon, let simmer for a few minutes so that the spices infuse the water. In the coffee mug, add the whiskey and honey, stir. Add the spiced water, serve, and enjoy.
2. Hot Buttered Rum
Another old-time favorite hot drink, hot buttered rum is an absolute delight to drink on cold, wet, and windy days. White unaged rum can be used, but if you want a cocktail that will delight your taste buds and knock your socks off, try the dark, spiced rum that comes from the West Indies.
1 coffee mug
1 or two ounces of dark spiced rum
1 teaspoon butter
1 or 2 teaspoons brown sugar
Hot water
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 slice of lemon
1 star anise
Boil the water in a pot with the spices and lemon slice. While everything is simmering, place the butter and brown sugar in the coffee mug, and muddle the two together. Add the spiced hot water, and add the rum. Give everything a stir and enjoy.
And our choice for the best hot drink for cold weather is…
Polar Bear Hot Chocolate
This is the grown up version of a drink we all grew up with; hot chocolate. Nothing in the world beats a creamy smooth hot chocolate topped with a spoonful of whipped cream; here’s how to make it with a delightful adult twist. The Polar Bear is more than likely to become your new favorite winter-time beverage. It can be made with a pre-packaged instant hot chocolate powder, but it is simply phenomenal when made from scratch.
1 coffee mug
1 ounce white crème de menthe liqueur or Koskenkorva Minttu if available
1 ounce chocolate liqueur
5 or six ounces of milk
2 or 3 pieces of semi-sweet chocolate
Whipping cream
Orange slice and maraschino cherry for garnish
Warm the milk in a pan, and add the pieces of chocolate, stirring often until the chocolate is melted and you have basic hot chocolate. Add the Koskenkorva Minttu and chocolate liqueur to the mug, then pour in the hot chocolate. Stir briefly, then top with whipping cream, and garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry.
To add to this drink’s wow factor, drizzle a small amount of green crème de menthe liqueur on top of the whipped cream and top with the maraschino cherry; the combination of white, green and red will make the drink look like a gorgeous liquid peppermint candy.
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