Happy Hour: Some Like It Hot

by Diana Vilibert

I’ve been asking you guys to email me your booze conundrums, and the people have spoken: you like your holiday booze like you like your men … hot and tasty. And sometimes more than one at a time. Happy holidays, indeed.

Spiked apple cider is all fine and good, but I aim to please, and I know you like your options. I think you’ll find these quite lovely:

Cocoa Camarena
Created by: Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist
1 1/4 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
8 oz milk
4 tablespoons hot cocoa mix
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice
Whipped cream, allspice & orange zest garnish

Directions: Place orange zest, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and whole allspice in saucepan with milk and chocolate cocoa. Stir continuously while heating mixture on low. Heat until chocolate has dissolved and mixture is steaming. Remove from heat. Add tequila. Stir. Strain into heat proof mug. Top with whipped cream. Dust with allspice powder and pinch of orange zest.

French Apple Lady
1.5 parts apple brandy
 .5 part St. Germain (yay!)
1 bar spoon honey

Directions: Add all ingredients to a hot toddy glass. Squeeze 1 lemon wedge with cloves into the glass. Top with hot water and garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice.

Warm Cider and Rum Punch
8 cups apple cider
1 apple, thinly sliced crosswise
1 orange, thinly sliced crosswise
2 cinnamon sticks
1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cups Brugal Añejo Rum

Directions: In a large pot, combine apple cider, apple slices, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and ginger. Bring to a boil over high; reduce to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. (Keep warm over low, up to 2 hours.) Remove from heat and stir in rum.

Sake Blossom
4 parts sake
1 part St. Germain

Directions: Combine sake and St. Germain, and heat (also tastes yummy chilled).

Falling to Black
Crafted by Simon Ford, Pernod-Ricard
2 ½ oz Jameson Black Barrel
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz mulled spice syrup
1 oz apple cider
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions: Shake, then strain over ice ball into a Old Fashioned Glass.

The Hot Black Maria:
2 ounces Roundhouse Corretto Coffee Liqueur
2 ounces Papagayo Organic Silver Rum
4 ounces hot black coffee
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
Whipped cream

Directions: In a shaker, mix ingredients. Shake. Serve in a coffee mug topped with whipped cream.

Winter Warmer
Created by: Shaher Misif, Cantina San Francisco
1 1/2 oz Camarena Reposado Tequila
1 tablespoon orange marmalade
3 cloves
Hot chamomile tea

Directions: Build all ingredients in a glass mug.

Hot Gin Punch
3 parts Beefeater Gin
3 parts port wine
6 parts pear juice
1 part lemon juice
3 cloves
A pinch nutmeg (grated)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon (powder)
4 teaspoons of sugar (brown)
2 pears (thinly sliced)
6 large lemon and orange twists

Directions: Mix all the ingredients in saucepan and place on the heat. Let the mixture simmer without boiling for a few minutes. Add honey and lemon to taste.

Snow Cap
1 oz Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha
1 oz ABSOLUT Vanilla vodka
1 oz hot chocolate

Directions: Mix ingredients together and top with whipped cream.

Previously: Thanksgiving!

Diana Vilibert wants to be your internet friend.

Image (of Hot Gin Punch) courtesy Beefeater