Warming cold-weather beverages / cocktails / etc.

Magala · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Posts: 5 Location: Seattle, Washington

After six straight days of cold rain in Seattle, I'm feeling a sudden urge to expand my knowledge of warm alcoholic beverages.

Irish coffee...French coffee...Mexican coffee...peppermint schnapps hot chocolate, and all of their friends and cousins. My two personal specialties are a drink called a Hot Apple Pie and a slightly americanized version of Gluehwein.

Hot Apple Pie
1 1/2 oz Tuaca (Italian liqueur), warmed
6 oz Apple Cider, warmed
Whipped cream to top
Serve in a mug and top with the whipped cream

Spiced Cranberry Wine
1 750ml bottle red wine
1 cup sugar or to taste
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2-2 cups cranberry juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
6 cloves
Half a lemon peel, zest only
Cinnamon stick

Ladle out into small mugs to serve. As long as you come even remotely close on the basic mix proportions and add whatever mulling spices you happen to have on hand (like a big pinch of mulling mix and a couple of strips or orange peel, etc.) then it will turn out fine. It's wonderful to have a pot simmering on the stove when your guests are arriving and coming in from the cold, and it makes the kitchen smell yummy.

Mmmm..what else is yummy? Very Happy

anna · Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 45 Location: north carolina, usa

mmmmm. last time is snowed here in nc, a big group of my friends and i piled in to the car and drove over to durham to crash at my parent's house, where the sledding hills are excellent. after some high-impact sledding, i made a big pot of rich hot chocolate and divided in two parts. one half i kept plain and served with marshmallow to my little sisters (ages 12, 10 and 4) and their buddies. the other half i spiced with cinnamon and cayenne pepper for my friends and i. mole hot chocolate! mmmmm. not alcoholic, but just as warming with that spicy cayenne!

brighidsdaughter · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 233 Location: Canton, TX USA

Brandied mocha: Half strong coffee, half cocoa, shot of brandy. Lazy way is 1/2 individual packet of instant cocoa mix in a mug, fill with coffee, add brandy. A whisper of hazelnut liqueur is a nice addition too. Whipped cream optional.

madameshawshank · Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:55 am Post subject: it's tooooooooooooooo hot here!

so, NOW we have the traditional heat of December...I'm almost passing out reading of the hot drinks...

a crispy cold Huntington Estate Rose...hot chocolate time around Aprilish for me...ok, if it has to have chocolate I'll go for an iced chocolate with the works...full cream EVERYTHING! Truly, it's the drink of the gods & goddesses... Idea

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melinda · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 256 Location: Richmond, VA, usa

For all of u in Australia I have a drink we usually have on July 4th (cause it's red)...but also good at Xmas called a RED ROOSTER..... using 1 large can frozen OJ with lotsa pulp (do not dilute) and maybe 3-4 cups cranberry juice cocktail, and 2 cups vodka Cool

.....I also add a bit of regular orange juice from a good carton....let freeze, stir & re-freeze....a slushy combo, very refreshing & people love...u can add triple sec too...it goes down fast & then u sudddenly can't get up off ur chair...haha...cheers

brighidsdaughter · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 233 Location: Canton, TX USA

Temps are unseasonably warm in Dallas, but I was reminded this evening of a mulled wine we used to make for Brighid's Day, Feb 1. It's somewhat a stand-in of the medieval beverage 'Ipocras':

2 bottles fruity and flavorful red wine
2 tablespoonsful mixed cider-mulling spices*
1 pint water
honey to taste

Put the water and spices to simmer in a covered pot. Cook for 10 minutes and let cool somewhat. Strain. Combine with wine and honey to taste. Re-warm if necessary, but on no account let the wine boil. Adding the spice infusion to the wine rather than simmering the wine with spices assures that the alcohol will not be evaporated in the simmering process.

*In the US, this is often available as a mixture of spice bits at gourmet stores. Google for substitutes, otherwise think 'gingerbread spices'. If you have to use powdered spices, prepare a day ahead, let the spiced wine settle, and strain through a coffee filter to remove sediment.

Barbara · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:47 am Post subject:

It feels like winter in NZ - it should be summer! In winter I love hot chocolate with a dash of Grand Marnier.

Melinda I think I'll try your slushy with a dash of Grand Marnier when I resume drinking alcohol. Only 7 more chemo session to go. Roederer Cristal will be my first drink. I saved so much on alcohol these 6 months I can afford it.
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melinda · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 256 Location: Richmond, VA, usa

Barbara....Grand Marnier would be a wonderful addition....and fine on its own too.....u should definitely splurge on some wonderful treat after u finish ur treatment.....here's to feelin fine in '05.....

monkey · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:05 pm Post subject:

Bravo Barbara!

brighidsdaughter is right. warm and rainy here in dallas. like a sauna (thank goodness i am terrycloth) i must admit, that despite the unseasonable weather, i have been tucking into one of my christmas treats - charbonnelle and walker drinking chocolate. i have always been a cocoa lover, and i was surprised at the rich and creamy joy of drinking chocolate. it's liquid love! replacing a bit of the water with cognac and crowning dollop of cream transformed it into more of a dessert than a beverage.
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