These 4 Warm Whisky Cocktails Are Perfect Winter Prep For Your Home Bar
Whisky-based cocktails are taking on a new form this winter season. These whisky cocktail recipes go beyond the classic hot toddy, to showcase the spirit’s complexity. Layered with the flavours of syrups and mixers like honey and apple cider, these are drinks that bring a wintry complexity into warm cocktail blends. Not only do these sophisticated, warm winter drinks explore whisky’s complexity, but they also bring forth robust, spiced effects well-suited to the sweater weather. Prep your bar for winter with these cocktails, in ways that maximise the flavours of the spirit whilst maintaining the temperature of the drink.
Hot Bourbon Apple Toddy
A fruity variation of the hot toddy, this drink brings forth the sweet notes of bourbon with the light tartness of hot apple cider and the syrupy notes of floral honey – to make a drink that is laced with a pie-like complexity.
Ingredients:
- 30 ml bourbon
- 90 ml non-alcoholic apple cider
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- Cloves and lemon wheel for garnish
Method:
– Warm 90 ml warm, non-alcoholic apple cider with one cinnamon stick and star anise each. Add 30 ml bourbon and 1 teaspoon honey to a heatproof mug. Top with the warmed apple cider and stir gently. Garnish with cloves and a lemon wheel.
Pro Tip: Warm the apple cider, without boiling it too much, so it can open up the flavour notes rather than subdue flavours of the spirit.
Rye Whisky Masala Hot Chocolate
A fusion of sweet, chocolatey and spiced flavours, the peppery edge of the rye whisky cuts through the sweetness of hot chocolate in this spiced winter-time dessert cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 30 ml rye whisky
- 90 ml warm hot chocolate
- A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg powders each
- Whipped cream for garnish
Method:
– In a heatproof mug, add 30 ml rye whisky and top this off with 90 ml warm hot chocolate. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg powder each and stir gently. Garnish the warm drink with whipped cream.
Pro Tip: Make the hot chocolate fresh so its chocolatey flavours come forth better and integrate well into the light sweetness of the rye whisky. Serve the drink warm.
Also Read: A Beginner’s Guide To Making Whisky Cocktails At Your Home Bar
Scotch And Ginger Winter Blend
Mix a smooth and golden-hued blended Scotch whisky such as the Johnnie Walker Blonde with the zing of grated ginger to produce a warm beverage that is spiced and sharp enough to suit a cold winter evening.
Ingredients:
- 30 ml Johnnie Walker Blonde
- 100 ml hot water
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ tablespoon lime juice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Method:
– In a cocktail mixer, muddle 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger and ½ tablespoon lime juice until the spiciness of the ginger starts oozing. Add 1 tablespoon honey and 30 ml Johnnie Walker Blonde to the mixture and stir well. Now, top this off with 100 ml hot water and strain the drink into a tall glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Pro Tip: The maltiness of the blended Scotch is complemented by the sharp flavours of ginger to yield a robustly flavoured winter serve. So, ensure the ginger is muddled well, to maximise its interaction with the whisky.
Smoky Maple Whisky Latte
Laced with the flavours of an Islay Scotch and the creaminess of full-fat milk, this smoked cocktail has all the makings of a post-dinner, dessert-style drink served after a particularly sumptuous, warm, wintertime meal.
Ingredients:
- 30 ml blended Islay Scotch
- 100 ml hot milk
- 30 ml freshly brewed coffee
- 10 ml maple syrup
- A pinch of cinnamon for garnish
Method:
– In a coffee mug, bring together 30 ml blended Islay Scotch with 30 ml freshly brewed coffee. Top this mixture off with 100 ml steaming hot milk. Drizzle 10 ml maple syrup over the drink and stir gently. Garnish with a pinch of cinnamon. Serve hot.
Pro Tip: Make freshly brewed coffee using a dark roast so that its earthy flavours blend well with the deep, smoky notes of the Islay Scotch, in a complementary blend of complex tasting notes.
Key Takeaways:
– Whisky-based cocktails can be more than just a simple hot toddy. Laced with flavour accents of apple cider, honey and spices, these are drinks which pack a lot of complexity.
– Prepare warm cocktails with mixers such as non-alcoholic apple cider or hot chocolate or freshly brewed coffee which are served piping hot with the whisky.
– Introduce robust flavour notes into wintertime whisky-based cocktails through the flavours of different spices like cinnamon, cloves and star anise.
FAQs:
– Which are some of the whisky cocktails other than hot toddy that can be prepared using this spirit?
Different cocktails like the hot bourbon apple toddy, the rye masala hot chocolate and the Scotch and ginger winter blend are among some of the drinks that can be prepared using whisky.
– Which are the different kinds of whiskies that can be used to make warm, wintertime drinks?
Whiskies such as bourbon and rye, as well as smoky, malty blended Scotches are among some variations that can be used to prepare warm, wintertime drinks.
– How does a robust, spicy flavour seep into these whisky-based cocktails?
Spiced flavours can come in the form of infusions such as honey syrups or simple syrups infused with cinnamon or nutmeg. Alternatively, spices can also be introduced as garnishes, such as a drizzle of nutmeg powder and a couple of cloves accentuating a whisky latte or a whisky ginger.
*All cocktails listed use 30 ml liquor measurements for single serves. Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
