It’s December, which not only means Christmas time, but also even colder temperatures, heavier jackets, first snows and first snow storms.
While the first snow may leave you slipping and sliding all over the road until you’re used to winter driving again, the snow storm allows you to shut yourself in, away from the chances of ending up in the ditch sideways waiting for a tow truck. On these days, it’s nice to curl around the fire, TV, or up with a big book and enjoy a nice hot winter cocktail.
Some hot winter cocktails are easy to make, and some take a little time, but all will warm your bones on a blistery winter day.
Spiked Coffee or Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate and coffee alone are great for warming up, but get even better with a little Irish cream. Use as much or as little as you want, but once you’ve had any, don’t go out to use the snowblower.
Irish Coffee
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Irish whiskey
- 1 tsp Brown sugar
- 6-8 oz. Coffee
- Heavy Cream
Combine whiskey, sugar and coffee in a mug and stir until dissolved. Float cold cream gently on top. Do not mix.
Hot Buttered Rum
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 4 tsp Butter or margarine, softened
- Dash Ground Cinnamon
- Dash Ground Nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cup Warm Water
- 1/2 cup Rum
- Lemon Slices (optional)
In a two-cup measure, stir together the brown sugar, butter or margarine, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir in the warm water. Serve immediately in mugs.
Tom & Jerry
Ingredients for batter:
- 12 eggs, separated
- 1 pound sugar (if you’d like it sweeter, add more)
- 2 ounces aged rum
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
Ingredients for Serving:
- Brandy
- Aged rum
- Hot milk
- Boiling water
Beat the egg yolks well, then gradually whisk in the sugar. Add the rum and spices. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the yolk mixture until well mixed. Keep batter refrigerated until serving.
For each drink, put 2 ounces of batter into a mug. Add 1 oz each of brandy and aged rum, and fill with equal parts hot milk and boiling water. Top with grated nutmeg. If using a small coffee cup or classic Tom & Jerry mug, you can cut the serving size in half. Serve with a spoon.
Just a note: While this recipe is for making your own Tom & Jerry mix, in case you have no time or no urge to make it, frozen batter can be found in bakeries or the dairy coolers at grocery stores, in liquor stores or on the internet.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients
- 1 oz brandy, whiskey or rum
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1/4 lemon
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tea bag
Coat the bottom of a mug with honey. Add your chosen liquor and the lemon juice. Separately, heat water in a tea kettle and add the tea bag to make hot tea. Pour the tea into the mug and stir.
Bourbon Furnace
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. hot apple cider
- 1 1/2 oz. bourbon
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 stick of cinnamon
Combine cider and bourbon in a mug. Garnish with cloves and cinnamon.