Happy New Year everyone! I took a bit of a break for the holidays but am back to the blogging. South Eastern Michigan is under about 6″ of snow so a lot of us are home from work. I thought it would be a perfect time to share some hot cocktails to warm you up.
Simple Boozy Hot Cocoa (Difficulty: Easy)
As a kid, every year we would cut down our own Christmas tree at Candy Cane Tree Farm. Once we got back to the car with our find, my mom would share a cup of homemade hot chocolate with us. It is a great memory. Hot Cocoa is a great medium for some booze. Chocolate or Irish Cream Liqueurs are a simple addition. However, rum also works well too. Something with a bit of age adds a nice depth and adds a latin touch.
Classic Hot Toddy (Difficulty: Easy)
The classic hot toddy is one of my favorites for cold weather. It is sweet, sour and boozy. It works great with whiskey and I love a high proof Rye like Rittenhouse. Watch you don’t add to much lemon juice. It becomes over powering fast. Also, don’t measure hot water in a jigger. You might burn yourself (personal experience). Pyrex borosillicate glass measuring cups are great.
– 2 oz Rittenhouse Rye
– 1/4 oz of lemon juice
– 1-2 barspoons of honey (based on your preference)
– 4 oz hot water
– tall cinnamon stick for stirring
– Tea Cup
Tom & Jerry (Difficulty: Moderate)
Tom & Jerry was a popular drink in the Midwest but took a dive and now is coming back. The drink is similar to Egg Nog but with rum.
Batter:
– 2 Egg, separated
– 1/2 oz Dark Rum
– 1/2 cup Fine Sugar (not powdered sugar)
– 1/4 teaspoon Allspice
– 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
– Cream everything except for the egg whites with a hand mixer into a fluffy yellow gel. In a separate bowl (with clean mixer), mix egg whites to hard peaks (pitch of cream of tarter helps). If there is any yoke in the egg whites, it will be very challenging. Fold the whites into the gel.
Drink:
– 4 tablespoons (2 oz) batter
– 2 oz VS Cognac (Martell is a great deal)
– 2 oz warm milk
– 2 oz hot water
– 1/4 oz Dark Rum (darker the better)
– Mix into a coffee mug and top with grated nutmeg
Blue Blazer (Difficulty: Hard)
Pictured above (Shane from The Oakland), this is a great cold weather drink. It does take a pretty big bad ass to make it, however. Or if you have no nerves in your fingers.
– 2 oz of high proof scotch or irish whiskey
– 1.5 oz hot water
– 1 teaspoon brown sugar
– lemon peel for garnish
– 2 metal mugs (bad ass) or 2 ceramic mugs (bad ass, ish)
Pour everything except garnish into one mug. Light the top of the liquid with a long match. Over a sink, pour the flaming mixture back and forth between the two mugs. It will warm quickly so move fast but safe. As you become more confident, you can move away from the sink. Pour the liquid into a cocktail glass and extinguish the flame by placing the bottom of the mug over the cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon oil from peel then drop the peel in.
Hot weather drinks are great and make winter bearable. Good luck and please send pictures to nick@nickdrinks.com.
Budmo!