14 Must-try Hot Winter Cocktails

When the cold weather sets in, nothing beats a warm, comforting cocktail to take the chill off. These 14 must-try hot winter cocktails combine seasonal flavors with the cozy warmth you crave during the colder months. Dive in to discover easy recipes that will add a touch of heat to your winter nights.

Hot Toddy

The Hot Toddy is a classic warm cocktail. It’s perfect for cold winter nights.

Classic Hot Toddy Recipe

Create a traditional hot toddy with these simple ingredients.

Hot water: 1 cup
Whiskey: 1.5 ounces
Honey: 2 teaspoons
Lemon juice: 2 teaspoons
Cloves: Optional for added spice

Instructions:

Heat water in a kettle or on the stove.
Combine whiskey, honey, and lemon juice in a mug.
Pour in hot water, stirring until honey dissolves.
Garnish with a lemon slice and cloves if desired.

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Variations to Try

You can personalize your hot toddy. Substitute whiskey with rum or brandy. Add cinnamon sticks for extra warmth. Use hot apple cider for a fruity twist.

Explore different sweeteners like maple syrup or adjust the lemon juice to your taste. With these variations, there is a hot toddy suited for everyone.

Irish Coffee

In colder months, an Irish Coffee is a warming treat. It combines hot coffee, a touch of sweetness, and Irish whiskey, topped with cream. This drink warms you from the inside out.

To make Irish Coffee, gather your ingredients:

1 cup of hot freshly brewed coffee
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1.5 ounces of Irish whiskey
Heavy cream for topping

Follow these steps to prepare the drink:

Pour hot coffee into a warmed glass.
Stir in the brown sugar until dissolved.
Add Irish whiskey and mix well.
Gently float heavy cream on top by pouring over the back of a spoon.

Serve your Irish Coffee in a heated mug to retain warmth. Enjoy the rich combination of coffee and whiskey with a creamy top.

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Hot Buttered Rum

Hot Buttered Rum is a delightful winter cocktail that can warm you up on the chilliest of nights. It’s a classic drink with rich flavors that mix butter, sugar, and spices with rum.

To make Hot Buttered Rum, you will need:

1 cup dark rum
2 tablespoons softened butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Boiling water

Instructions:

Place butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a mug.
Mix well until combined.
Add the rum.
Top the mixture with boiling water.
Stir to blend fully.
Optional: Garnish with a cinnamon stick or grated nutmeg for an extra touch.

This cozy drink offers a perfect balance of warmth and spice. It’s easy to make and adds cheer to any winter gathering.

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Mulled Wine

Mulled wine brings warmth and coziness during the colder months. This classic warm drink is perfect for festive gatherings and chilly evenings.

Ingredients

1 bottle dry red wine
1/4 cup brandy
1 orange (sliced)
10 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
3 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

Combine Ingredients: Pour the wine into a large pot. Add brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and sugar.
Heat: Gently warm the mixture over low heat. Avoid boiling as it can affect the flavors.
Simmer: Let the mixture simmer for about 20 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld together.
Serve: Strain the wine. Serve warm in mugs or heatproof glasses.

Tips: You can adjust sugar and spices to your preference. Add extra orange slices for garnish to enhance freshness. Mulled wine is adaptable and can be customized with additional ingredients or alcohol alternatives.

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Spiked Hot Chocolate

Warm up with a delicious mug of spiked hot chocolate. This cozy drink combines rich flavors with warm spirits for a perfect winter treat.

Classic Spiked Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ounce rum or bourbon
Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions:

Heat the milk in a saucepan.
Stir in cocoa powder and sugar until smooth.
Remove from heat, add rum or bourbon.
Top with whipped cream if desired.

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Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup half and half
Pinch of salt

Instructions:

Melt chocolate with milk in a saucepan over low heat.
Whisk until smooth, mix in wine and salt.
Heat until warm and serve immediately.

Dirty Snowman

Ingredients:

1 cup hot chocolate
1 ounce Kahlua
Chocolate syrup
Whipped cream
Sprinkles

Instructions:

Prepare hot chocolate.
Mix in Kahlua.
Drizzle chocolate syrup in glass.
Add hot chocolate and top with whipped cream and sprinkles.

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Hot Apple Cider With Bourbon

Hot Apple Cider with Bourbon is a warm and inviting winter cocktail. The combination of apple cider and bourbon creates a rich, comforting drink perfect for cold nights. You can easily make it with a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients:

½ gallon apple cider
2-3 cups bourbon
1 apple, sliced
1 pear, sliced
6 cinnamon sticks
Star anise

Instructions:

Combine Ingredients: In a large pot, mix apple cider, bourbon, apple slices, pear slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.
Heat: Place the pot over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Reduce to low to keep warm.
Serve: Ladle the warm cider into mugs. Garnish each with a cinnamon stick and additional apple or pear slices if desired.

This hot cider drink offers a warming sensation that’s perfect for a relaxing evening. Enhance the flavor by adding citrus or additional spices if you like.

Hot Gin Toddy

The Hot Gin Toddy is a warming cocktail perfect for chilly nights. It combines the herbal notes of gin with the soothing qualities of hot, spiced liquids.

Ingredients

2 oz gin
1 oz lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
4 oz hot water
Cinnamon stick (for garnish)

Instructions

Mix Ingredients

Pour gin, lemon juice, and honey into a heatproof glass or mug.

Add Hot Water

Stir in hot water until honey is fully dissolved.

Garnish and Serve

Add a cinnamon stick for an extra touch.
Sip slowly and savor the warmth and flavors.

Feel free to adjust the sweetness or citrus levels to your liking. This Hot Gin Toddy provides you with a refreshing alternative to the traditional whiskey-based version, perfect for nights in by the fire.

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Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Peppermint hot chocolate is a perfect winter drink. It’s warm, minty, and comforting. Elevate your hot chocolate game with this spiked version.

Ingredients:

1 cup of milk
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 ounce of peppermint schnapps
Whipped cream (optional)
Chocolate shavings (optional)

Instructions:

Heat milk in a saucepan over low heat.
Stir in cocoa powder and sugar. Mix until well combined.
Remove from heat. Stir in peppermint schnapps.
Pour into a mug.
Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if desired.

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Hot Buttered Bourbon

Embrace the warmth with Hot Buttered Bourbon. This rich, flavorful cocktail combines butter, spices, and bourbon. It’s perfect for cold evenings.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
A pinch of salt
2 shots bourbon
1 cup boiling water

Instructions:

Prepare the Spice Paste
Mix the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl until smooth.
Assemble the Drink
Add the bourbon and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the spice paste to a mug.
Mix and Serve
Pour boiling water over the mixture. Stir well. Serve immediately.

Optional: Top with whipped cream for extra indulgence.

This Hot Buttered Bourbon offers cozy flavors. The combination of spices and warmth makes it a winter favorite.

Spiked Chai Latte

Warm up with a Spiked Chai Latte this winter. This cozy drink combines the flavors of chai and a touch of liquor.

Ingredients

1 cup milk
2 chai tea bags
¾ ounce of preferred liquor (like rum or bourbon)
1 packet of Sweet’N Low
Dried orange slice
Cinnamon stick for garnish

Instructions

Heat milk: Warm the milk in a saucepan or microwave until it steams.
Steep tea: Add chai tea bags to the milk. Let them steep for several minutes.
Prepare mugs: Pour ¾ ounce of liquor into each mug.
Sweeten: Add a packet of Sweet’N Low to each mug.
Mix: Pour in the steeped tea, mixing well.
Garnish: Top with a dried orange slice and a cinnamon stick.

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Hot Rum Punch

Hot Rum Punch is a warming cocktail perfect for chilly evenings. This drink combines the rich flavors of rum with spices and citrus tones, creating a comforting and festive beverage.

To make Hot Rum Punch, you will need the following ingredients:

4 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 lemon, sliced
3/4 cup dark rum
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice

Follow these steps to prepare the punch:

Combine water and sugar in a pot. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and sliced lemon. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir in rum, orange juice, and lemon juice.
Heat gently. Avoid boiling.
Strain out solids. Discard them.
Pour into cups. Serve hot.

Enjoy your Hot Rum Punch in a cozy setting. It’s ideal for gatherings or a quiet night by the fire. The blend of spices and citrus enhances the rich depth of the rum, providing a delightful aroma and taste.

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Mexican Hot Chocolate (With Tequila)

Mexican Hot Chocolate with Tequila offers warmth and a kick. It’s a unique winter cocktail you’ll love. The blend of chocolate with a hint of spice and the depth of tequila creates a satisfying drink.

Ingredients:

3 cups milk
4 oz dark chocolate
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp sugar
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 oz tequila
Whipped cream (for topping)
Cinnamon (for garnish)

Instructions:

Warm the milk over low heat.
Add dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and sugar.
Stir until everything has melted and mixed thoroughly.
Mix in cayenne pepper to taste.
Remove from heat.
Pour tequila into mugs.
Add the hot chocolate mixture.
Top with whipped cream.
Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Glogg (Swedish Mulled Wine)

Glogg is a cozy Swedish mulled wine perfect for warming up on cold winter nights. You can easily prepare this comforting beverage at home. It combines spices, wine, and other flavorful ingredients.

Ingredients:

1 bottle red wine
1 1/2 cups ruby port or bourbon (based on preference)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons orange zest
1 tablespoon cardamom pods
1 cinnamon stick
8 whole cloves
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons sliced ginger root
1/4 cup almonds

Instructions:

Combine red wine, port or bourbon, sugar, orange zest, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, raisins, and sliced ginger root in a large saucepan.
Heat the mixture gently over medium heat until it reaches about 175°F (77°C). This ensures all flavors blend.
Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and let the flavors steep for at least 2 hours.
Strain to remove the solids.
Reheat gently before serving. Serve warm in mugs, with a few almonds in each cup for added texture.

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Spiked Pumpkin Spice Latte

Warm up with a Spiked Pumpkin Spice Latte. It’s an ideal treat for chilly evenings. This cocktail combines the comforting flavors of pumpkin spice with a kick of your favorite liquor.

Ingredients: