You may have your favourite cocktail year-round, but there’s no denying sometimes they feel seasonal. In summer, you may be more inclined towards a fruity and fresh Pina Colada or margarita. Meanwhile, in winter, you’ll want your classic negroni or even a hot toddy.
If there’s one booze that’s a friend to the winter months, its whisky. Smooth and often with notes of toffee, it’s a regular on most sophisticated bar carts.
Here, the best cocktails to make in the colder months.
Easy Whisky Cocktails For Winter
Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
- 2 shots bourbon or rye whisky
- 1 sugar cube (or 1/2 teaspoon sugar)
- 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Few dashes plain water
- Ice
- Orange twist and/or maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions:
- Place the sugar cube in an Old Fashioned glass. Add the bitters and a few dashes of water.
- Muddle until the sugar is dissolved.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes, then add the whisky.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with an orange twist and/or a maraschino cherry.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
- 1 shot whisky
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 15ml (1/3 shot) lemon juice
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 lemon round
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Instructions:
- In a mug, add whisky, honey, and lemon juice.
- Pour hot water into the mug and stir until honey is dissolved.
- Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick.
Irish Coffee
Ingredients:
- 45 mL whisky
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 180 mL hot brewed coffee
- Heavy cream, slightly whipped
Instructions:
- Preheat a glass by filling it with hot water, then empty it.
- Add brown sugar and whisky to the glass.
- Fill with hot coffee and stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Gently pour whipped cream over the back of a spoon to float on top.
Feeling adventurous? There’s also the Glenlivet Royale, a perfect spin on the classic French 75. And if you’re after a whisky to buy, consider…
Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, $89.99 at Dan Murphy’s.