Cooler weather is upon us, which means it’s time to upgrade your at-home cocktail menu. While summer tends to lend itself to citrus-based cocktails and light and refreshing libations, winter weather calls for some different flavors and maybe a few spices every now and then. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, we’ve rounded up a handful of great winter cocktails to get you started.
Le Jardin
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. La Vanille
.75 oz. Lemon Juice
.5 oz. Ginger Syrup
.5 oz. Granny Smith Apple juice; (if not available 0.75oz fresh apple juice)
Garnish: grated nutmeg
Directions: Stir all items together. Serve in martini glass.
Highland Orchard
by Jaime Salas, National Milagro Tequila Ambassador
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Milagro Añejo
.5 oz. fresh lime juice
1 Barspoon tamarind concentrate
2 Dashes Angostura bitters
3 oz. Sidral Mundet apple soda
Red apple slice
Directions: Combine ingredients except soda and shake well. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass and top with apple soda. Garnish with a red apple slice.
Santa Margherita
Ingredients:
1 bottle of Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG
1/2 lemon
1/2 orange
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup sugar
3 whole cloves
3 whole allspice
2 cinnamon sticks
Directions: Rinse lemon and orange and thinly slice them, discarding seeds; quarter the orange slices. Put fruit in a 4- to 5-quart pan. Add honey, sugar (use the smaller amount if you prefer drinks on the tart side, the larger if you want a sweeter flavor), cloves and allspice. With a knife, cut the cinnamon sticks lengthwise into thinner strips. Add cinnamon and 2 cups water to pan; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes. Pour Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG into hot citrus base and heat until steaming, about 8 minutes. Keep warm over low heat. Ladle into heatproof cups or wineglasses.
Ginger Apple Cooler
Ingredients:
2 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple
1 tsp. Maple Syrup
1 tsp. lemon juice
Brooklyn Crafted Extra Spicy Ginger Beer, to fill
Garnish with Candied Ginger
Directions: Combine Whiskey, maple syrup, lemon juice and ice in a cocktail shaker; shake vigorously. Serve topped with ginger beer and garnish with candied ginger.
Winter’s Reign
Ingredients:
.5 oz. Santa Teresa 1796
1 oz. Dickel Rye
.5 oz. St. George Spiced Pear
.5 oz. Ruby Port
.5 oz. Carpano Antica
Directions: Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Stir & strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a dehydrated pear.