When the temperature drops, your cocktail game should heat up. Winter calls for drinks that warm from the inside out — rich, spirit-forward cocktails built around whiskey, brandy, and coffee. These eight recipes are what we reach for when the fireplace is lit and the evening stretches ahead.
What Makes a Great Winter Cocktail
Winter drinks flip the summer script. Instead of light and fruity, you want rich and warming. Dark spirits like whiskey, bourbon, and brandy provide the backbone. Warm spices, coffee, cream, and honey add depth. Some are served hot; others are simply built with cold-weather comfort in mind.
Our Favorite Winter Cocktails
1. Greasy Swede
A warming winter cocktail that brings comfort on cold evenings. Rich, spirit-forward, and perfect for sipping by the fire.
2. Baileys Irish Cream
A warming winter cocktail that brings comfort on cold evenings. Rich, spirit-forward, and perfect for sipping by the fire.
3. Old Fashioned
A warming winter cocktail that brings comfort on cold evenings. Rich, spirit-forward, and perfect for sipping by the fire.
4. Seething Jealousy
A warming winter cocktail that brings comfort on cold evenings. Rich, spirit-forward, and perfect for sipping by the fire.
5. Hot Brandy Toddy
A warming winter cocktail that brings comfort on cold evenings. Rich, spirit-forward, and perfect for sipping by the fire.
6. Mint Russian
A warming winter cocktail that brings comfort on cold evenings. Rich, spirit-forward, and perfect for sipping by the fire.
7. White Russian
A warming winter cocktail that brings comfort on cold evenings. Rich, spirit-forward, and perfect for sipping by the fire.
8. Grendel
A warming winter cocktail that brings comfort on cold evenings. Rich, spirit-forward, and perfect for sipping by the fire.
Winter Cocktail Techniques
- Warm your mugs for hot cocktails by filling them with boiling water while you prep. Dump the water before pouring the drink.
- Use aged spirits: Winter is the season for reposado tequila, bourbon, and aged rum. The oak aging adds warmth that blends perfectly with the season.
- Don’t skip the garnish: A cinnamon stick, star anise, or orange peel adds aroma that makes the drink feel even more wintery.
- Try a hot toddy variation: Almost any spirit works as the base for a hot toddy. Experiment beyond whiskey with rum, brandy, or mezcal.
Explore more cold-weather options in our coffee & tea cocktails section or find something unexpected with our cocktail spinner.