Winter Warmers

The colder evenings may be creeping in now, but that doesn’t mean we need to desert our beloved cocktails in favoured of hot cocoa. This list of drinks will be sure to fill you with a warm glow, and they taste delicious too!

Caramel Irish Coffee

I couldn’t write a post about hot winter drinks without mentioning Irish coffee. This classic cocktail is regularly made in my house, but I really love this caramel twist. Made with equal parts of Jamesons Irish Whiskey, Bailey’s Irish Cream and Butterscotch Schnapps mixed with two and a half parts coffee, this tastes best if made in a pre-heated Irish coffee glass. Simply pour in the ingredients and top with whipped cream and caramel. It’s a wickedly naughty dessert in a glass!

Hot Peppermint Patty

Following along the lines of after-dinner drinks, this Peppermint Patty takes a traditional hot chocolate and gives it a minty, alcoholic twist. Make hot chocolate as normal, and add an ounce of Peppermint Schnapps, half an ounce of Dark Crème de Cacao, and a teaspoon of Crème de Menthe. Fill the cup up with whipped cream and sprinkle some chocolate shavings on top. This recipe will delight anyone will a sweet tooth and works best in a mug or a pre-warmed Irish coffee glass.

Hot Apple Toddy

This cider recipe is a wonderful alternative to the classic Mulled Wine that often makes an appearance around this time of year. Pre-heat an Irish coffee glass and then coat the base of it in honey. Pour in two ounces of Whiskey and then fill with hot apple cider. Give it a quick stir and then garnish with a cinnamon stick, lemon wedge, and a few whole cloves. It will become your new winter favourite!

Milk & Honey

This cocktail is one that is sure to take you back to the days when your mum used to make your warm milk before bed. Of course, this nostalgic favourite has been given a grown-up twist. Pour one and a half ounces of Benedictine into a mug and fill with warm milk. Bliss. One thing to remember is that milk will curdle with the alcohol in your stomach, so don’t drink too many or you will live to regret it!

Warm n’ Toasty

After a long day of snowball throwing, Christmas shopping or just running errands out in the cold, Warm n’ Toasty is exactly how you want to feel, so this cocktail had to make it onto my list. Another one that requires an Irish coffee glass, preferably pre-warmed to keep the cocktail hot, it is simple to make. Pour two ounces of Bourbon into the glass with a quarter ounce of lemon juice and a quarter ounce of Grenadine, and fill with hot water. The garnish is a cinnamon stick and orange wheel. The result is utter relaxation after a hard, cold day!