I grew up in Ontario but moved to the west coast ten years ago. Winter for me here in British Columbia, well…let’s face it: it’s not really winter. Still, I like the excuse to indulge in a cozy winter cocktail or two. In my books, my heroine is a cocktail lover, big-time. Me, I usually prefer wine, but I do like to mix it up from time to time (whoops–see what I did there?).
Anyway, It’s January, and although many “winter cocktails” are distinctly Christmas-themed (and that’s no fun once Christmas is over), here are three that can be enjoyed all winter long:
White Russian
This is a simple, creamy vodka cocktail made with coffee liqueur (like Kahlua) that makes a perfect after-supper treat. If you add amaretto, you get a variation called the Roasted Toasted Almond.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz vodka
3/4 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur
3/4 oz milk or cream
Preparation:
Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice.
Pour the vodka and Kahlua over the ice and stir.
Top with the cream.
Black Russian
It’s difficult to get more simple than this. This is basically the White Russian, minus the cream, and it’s another yummy after-dinner sipper. It’s popular the world over, and for good reason.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 oz vodka
3/4 oz coffee liqueur
Preparation:
Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice.
Pour the vodka and Kahlua over the ice.
Stir well.
Hot Toddy
So this one isn’t so much a cocktail…as medicine. But since it is cold and flu season, after all (and since doctoring is my day job) I just had to include this one. Admittedly, there’s not a lot of hard science behind the pharmaceutical value of the hot toddy, but I don’t really care. I love this drink when I’m sick, and I recommend it for friends and family all the time. Besides, this recipe comes from my British parents, who know a thing or two about the value of a nice hot, medicinal drink on a cold damp night.
Ingredients:
1 oz. whisky
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp honey
boiling water
lemon slice
Preparation:
Pour the whisky into a mug.
Add sugar and honey.
Fill the remainder of the mug with boiling water.
Add the lemon slice, tuck yourself into bed with a good book, and sip.
Optional ingredients: cloves, a cinnamon stick, or star anise (as pictured above).
So how about you? Do you have any favorite winter cocktails?
Kim Foster writes YA and adult books about thieves, spies, and assassins. (Read More)
Jan 14, 2014 
