Winter’s Warmest Cocktails: 5 Festive Recipes to Cozy Up with
LONDON (AP) — Winter has set in, the Christmas lights have been switched on, and London’s top cocktail bars have added their seasonal favorites to bar menus. From a festive Old-Fashioned to a boozy hot chocolate, these after-dinner drinks might inspire your own menu of holiday cocktails, to be supped slowly by the fire or washed down with your Christmas pudding.
ROASTED CHESTNUT OLD-FASHIONED, from Archive & Myth
This hidden speakeasy, accessed by a password-protected door, has updated the traditional Old-Fashioned. They switch out the sugar for a chestnut liqueur, and instead of standard bitters they use walnut bitters for an extra nutty twist.
Ingredients:
- 50ml (1.7oz) Compass Box Nectarosity (a blended Scotch whiskey)
- 20ml (0.7oz) roasted chestnut liqueur
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters (black walnut preferable)
- 1 pinch of salt
Directions:
- Stir with ice until chilled, strain into a rock glass with a clove-studded orange peel.
THE NUTCRACKER, from Swift Borough
Rebecca Pink-Swann, senior bartender at Swift Borough, a two-story cocktail bar close to the historic Borough Market, showed off their Nutcracker, a take on the flip cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole egg
- 20ml (0.7oz) chestnut liqueur (could substitute with Frangelico)
- 30ml (1oz) port
- 50 ml (1.7oz) Hennessy/cognac
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to your cocktail tin. Dry shake (no ice) first and then shake with ice. Single strain into a frozen glass. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
NOUGAT & VODKA, from Twice Shy
Over in West London, the neighborhood bar Twice Shy offers a winter favorite that reminds co-founder Elon Soddu of eggnog. It uses his homemade nougat vodka, but you can make your own by adding nougat (you can buy it in a candy store) and vodka to a Mason jar and then stirring every few days until the nougat dissolves.
Ingredients:
- 50ml (1.7oz) nougat-infused vodka
- 5ml (0.18oz) Disaronno amaretto liqueur
- 15ml (0.5oz) lemon juice
- 10ml (0.25oz) honey
- 15ml (0.5oz) egg white
Directions:
- Build the cocktail in the shaker, then dry shake. Add ice and shake the cocktail, double strain in a rock glass over ice, garnish with grated nutmeg
SUZETTE, by Sofitel London St James
At Sofitel London St James, bartender Mikey Chaplin recommends their Suzette cocktail for a holiday treat. It’s inspired by the classic French crepe and a take on the whiskey sour. Chaplin says the orange notes makes it fantastic for Christmas, and believes this one is best slowly sipped on its own.
Ingredients:
- 30 ml (1oz) Singleton of Dufftown 12 year old whisky
- 15 m (0.5oz) Grand Marnier Cuvee Alexandre (regular Grand Marnier can be used)
- 10 ml (0.25oz) Aperol
- 5ml (0.18oz) Discarded Sweet Cascara Vermouth (Lillet can be used instead)
- 25ml (0.75oz) lemon juice
- 15ml (0.5oz) orange syrup* (recipe below)
Directions:
- Place ice in a shaker base, pour in all ingredients. Shake well and single strain over large ice cubes in a rock glass. Finish with orange peel, trying to burn the oil squeezed over the glass.
HO, HO, HOT CHOCOLATE, from Side Hustle, NoMad London
Shoppers in Covent Garden might slip into the nearby NoMad London’s Side Hustle bar or cozy up in its Library for afternoon tea and a boozy and extremely chocolate-y Ho, Ho, Hot Chocolate.
Ingredients:
- 15ml (0.5 oz) Green Chartreuse
- 22ml (0.75 oz) Fernet-Branca
- 150ml (5 oz) hot chocolate base* (recipe below)
Directions:
- Pour the hot chocolate base over the rest of the ingredients, mix until everything is dissolved, and then strain the mixture through a chinois strainer. Serve in a glass teacup or coffee mug.
Conclusion
These festive cocktails are sure to add a touch of magic to your holiday gatherings. Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or a beginner, these recipes offer a range of flavors and techniques to help you create the perfect holiday drink.
FAQs
Q: What are some common ingredients used in holiday cocktails?
A: Some common ingredients used in holiday cocktails include chestnuts, nuts, spices, and citrus fruits.
Q: How do I make a festive Old-Fashioned?
A: To make a festive Old-Fashioned, you can substitute the sugar with chestnut liqueur and use walnut bitters for an extra nutty twist.
Q: What is a flip cocktail?
A: A flip cocktail is a type of cocktail that uses a whole egg as a main ingredient. It is typically shaken with a sweet and fortified wine, and then strained into a glass.
Q: How do I make nougat vodka?
A: To make nougat vodka, you can add nougat and vodka to a Mason jar and then stir every few days until the nougat dissolves.
