Going for a drink is easy when you’re already out to begin with, but what do you do when you’re at home, want a drink, and don’t feel like going out in the cold? You fix yourself one, Don Draper style. If you’re new to at-home bartending or are in need of some new cocktails, check out these recipes for our five favorite winter drink classics–some of them with a twist.

1. Hot Buttered Rum (pictured). Just as if someone took a stack of syrupy, buttery pancakes and turned it into a drink.

Recipe serves 4.

• 2 cups water
• 2/3 cup dark rum (we like Myers Dark Rum for this)
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/8 tsp. salt

Throw everything but the rum into a pot. Bring to a boil over moderate heat. Simmer for 10 minutes and stir every 2 minutes or so. Stir in the rum. Pour into mugs or Irish coffee glasses, and serve piping hot.

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2. Hot Apple Toddy. A variation on the hot toddy, the warm scent of apples in this drink makes it extra holiday-appropriate.

• apple cider, heated (we like to use a teakettle. Easier!)
• 2 oz. whiskey (if you prefer blended, try Johnnie Walker Red. If you prefer single malt, try Laphroaig for smoky spice)
• 1 wedge lemon, squeezed
• 1 dash nutmeg
• 1 dash cinnamon
• honey to coat the bottom of the glass

Coat the bottom of the glass (preferably an Irish coffee glass) with honey. Add whiskey. Add apple cider to top of glass. Squeeze lemon or garnish. Dash the nutmeg and cinnamon on top, and drink up.

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3. Dark & Stormy. Put a bit of a warm-weather twist in your holiday drinking.

• 3 oz. ginger beer
• 2 oz. dark rum

In a tall glass (a Collins glass, preferably), stir the ginger beer and dark rum together with ice cubes. We like this without the lime juice–the drink was originally made without it.

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4. Chilled Tequila Mocha. A whipped cream-topped, chilled cocktail that’s at once chocolaty and potent.

• Freshly brewed coffee
• 2 oz. cold milk
• 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 oz. tequila blanco (we like Patron blanco or Tanteo cocoa tequila)
• 1 oz. coffee liqueur (we like Kahlua)
• 3/4 oz simple syrup (you can make this: boil equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan)
• whipped cream (made from real cream preferred)
• (optional) chocolate-covered espresso beans

In a separate mug or bowl, thoroughly mix the cocoa powder and cold milk together (this will look slushy and messy, but carry on). Fill the shaker halfway full with ice. Pour in 1/2 cup of coffee, the milk/cocoa mix, the tequila, and the simple syrup. Shake well.

Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Top with whipped cream and garnish with optional chocolate espresso beans. Incredible as a dessert cocktail.

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5. Bourbon Milk Punch. Subtly sweet, creamy, and with a nice spicy edge from the bourbon.

• 1.5 oz. bourbon
• 3 oz. whole milk (anything less will miss the point entirely)
• 1 tsp. maple syrup
• 1 dash vanilla extract
• 1 dash nutmeg (and a pinch for garnish)

Put all ingredients in a shaker with ice; shake well. Pour with a strainer over ice–better yet, frozen milk cubes–into a rocks glass. Dash some nutmeg on top, take it to the living room, put on an old record, and sit back.

 

Happy holidays from Markets Media Lifestyle…and of course, always drink responsibly!