Warm Up With a Cozy Mixed Drink

There are many great cocktails that will warm you right up when the weather gets cold. Brandy, rum, and whiskey are included in many of the best recipes for cold days, but not all of the drinks are served hot. While spiked coffee, tea, and cocoa drinks are comforting, even cold drinks can take the chill out of your bones, especially when they feature the tastes of the season.

1) Irish Coffee

There's no better way to spike your coffee than with a classic Irish coffee. It's an iconic drink that will long remain a favorite, and it's much simpler than its reputation makes it seem. All you need is Irish whiskey, sugar, cream, and the richest, most robust coffee you can brew. To be honest, any coffee will do.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar, to taste

• 4 ounces strong, hot coffee

• 1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey

• 1 ounce heavy cream, lightly whipped

Steps to Make It

 Gather the ingredients.

 Place the brown sugar into a warm Irish coffee glass, mug, or other heatproof glass.

 Add the coffee and Irish whiskey.

 Stir until the sugar is dissolved.

 Float the lightly whipped heavy cream on top by slowly pouring it over the back of a spoon.

 Do not stir. Instead, drink the Irish coffee through the cream. Enjoy.

2) Hot Toddy

It's hard to beat a hot toddy on a cold day. It's a drink that you can take in any direction you like to fit your mood, taste, or whatever you have on hand. Rum, whiskey, and brandy are common, and the basic hot toddy is a perfect venue for your favorite winter tea. The basic recipe requires only a base liquor, add honey as a sweetener, give it a squeeze of lemon juice, and a fantastic drink is yours to enjoy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup water

• 1 tea bag black or green tea, or 1 teaspoon loose leaf tea

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1 1/2 ounces brandy, or whiskey, or rum

• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

• Lemon wedge, for garnish

• Cinnamon stick, for garnish

Steps to Make It

 Gather the ingredients.

 Heat the water in a tea kettle or the microwave. Once warm, add a tea bag and allow to steep for about 3 to 5 minutes.

 While brewing the tea, heat your mug or an Irish coffee glass by filling it with warm water.

 Once the glass is warm, discard the water out and coat the bottom with the honey.

 Add the liquor and lemon juice to the glass, then fill with the brewed tea. Stir well to incorporate the honey.

 Garnish with a lemon wedge and cinnamon stick. Serve and enjoy.

3) Bloody Mary

Watching a movie on a rainy morning? The bloody Mary is the ultimate drink for such moments. This vodka-spiked tomato cocktail developed into a favorite brunch drink and became well-known as a hangover remedy. It's also excellent on a chilly day.

Use this basic bloody mary recipe as a starting point, then get creative. Make it extra spicy, switch out the liquor, or get crazy with the edible garnishes, and have fun in your bloody mary adventures.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka

• 3 ounces tomato juice

• 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce

• 1 dash hot sauce, or to taste

• 1 pinch celery salt

• 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon prepared horseradish, or to taste, optional

• Lemon wedge, for garnish

• Celery stalk, or pickle spear, for garnish

Steps to Make It

 Gather the ingredients.

 In a highball glass filled with ice cubes, pour the vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce.

 Add the hot sauce, celery salt, black pepper, and horseradish (if using).

 Stir well, or try rolling the drink. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.

 Garnish with a lemon wedge, celery stalk, and/or pickle. Serve and enjoy.

4) Hot Buttered Rum

Sweet, spicy, and warm, it doesn't get much more relaxing than hot buttered rum after a long winter day. It's a fantastic fireside cocktail, and you can prepare the batter ahead of time to make it even easier when guests stop by.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

• 1 splash pure vanilla extract

• 1 dash ground cinnamon

• 1 dash ground nutmeg

• 1 dash ground allspice

• 2 ounces dark rum

• 4 ounces hot water

• Cinnamon stick, for garnish

Steps to Make It

 Gather the ingredients.

 Place the sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and spices into the bottom of an Irish coffee glass or mug and mix well or muddle.

 Pour in the rum and top it with hot water.

 Stir and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Serve and enjoy.

5) Rusty Nail

For a warm-up on the rocks, this scotch and Drambuie cocktail is an excellent choice. Despite being chilled, the rusty nail's smoky, honeyed, herbal flavor does an excellent job of warming you up.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces Scotch whisky

• 3/4 ounce Drambuie

Steps to Make It

 Gather the ingredients.

 Pour the ingredients into an old-fashioned glass with ice cubes.

 Stir well. Serve and enjoy.

Visit Liquor Max and Chandarana Foodplus to explore a variety of alcoholic drinks for your preffered July hot drink. For condiments such as spices, extracts and honey, Chandarana Foodplus has got it all!