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3 Warming Winter Cocktails For A Classy Night In

Time to break out the bar cart.
winter cocktail

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

winter cocktail 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:

  1. Place the sugar cube in an Old Fashioned glass. Add the bitters and a few dashes of water.
  2. Muddle until the sugar is dissolved.
  3. Fill the glass with ice cubes, then add the whisky.
  4. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Garnish with an orange twist and/or a maraschino cherry.

Hot Toddy

hot toddy winter cocktail

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:

  1. In a mug, add whisky, honey, and lemon juice.
  2. Pour hot water into the mug and stir until honey is dissolved.
  3. Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick.

Irish Coffee

irish coffee winter cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 45 mL whisky
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 180 mL hot brewed coffee
  • Heavy cream, slightly whipped

Instructions:

  1. Preheat a glass by filling it with hot water, then empty it.
  2. Add brown sugar and whisky to the glass.
  3. Fill with hot coffee and stir to dissolve the sugar.
  4. 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 whisky

Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, $89.99 at Dan Murphy’s.

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