Right now, the entire East Coast is blanketed in snow. Some people don’t have power and that means they don’t have heat, but guess what, neither did your ancestors, and do you know how they survived blizzards in the olden days? That’s right, with booze. They don’t call it putting on an alcohol sweater for nothing. And as long as you have gas and a few matches, you can still get that range to work, so fire up a burner, grab a few bottles of alcohol, and warm up with one of these great cold-weather cocktails.
Bourbon Apple Cider
This drink has all the ingredients that make regular apple cider so delicious, with a splash of Bourbon for extra warmth.
The Ingredients
- 2 Quarts Apple Cider
- 1/2 cup Orange Juice
- 1 Cup 90 Proof Or Higher Bourbon
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Whole Cloves
- Four Cinnamon Sticks
- 1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
Add everything but the bourbon to a pot and heat on medium, letting simmer for 15 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in bourbon, ladle into cups and serve.
A Winter Julep
We’re huge fans of mint juleps so we were pretty excited when we discovered this drink, and it’s easier to make than the original!
The Ingredients
- 1.5 Ounces Of Bourbon
- ¾ Ounces Of Brown Sugar Syrup (Instructions Below)
- 1 Peppermint Tea Bag
- 5 Ounce Of Hot Water
- Mint Leaves For Garnish
First, to make the brown sugar syrup, combine equal parts brown sugar and hot water and fully dissolve. Measure out ¾ ounces of your newly created syrup and combine with 5 ounces of hot water in a mug or even a traditional julep glass. Steep a bag of peppermint tea in the solution for 3 minutes. Remove the bag and stir in bourbon. Enjoy.
Hot Milk Punch
We know a drink with milk as the main ingredient may not sound like the most appealing thing in the world, but sometimes you’re so cold all you want to do is pass out, and trust us, this thing is better than sleeping pills!
The Ingredients
- 1 Ounce Dark Rum
- 1 Ounce Brandy
- 1 Teaspoon Sugar
- 6 Ounces Milk
- Nutmeg For Garnish
Heat the milk gently on the stove or in the microwave. In the meantime, combine the rum, brandy and sugar in a mug. Pour in the warm milk and garnish with a dusting of nutmeg if you like.
Scotch Whiskey Skin
Your ancestors definitely drank this — it’s been around since 1862.
The Ingredients
- 2 Ounces Scotch
- Boiling Water
- Lemon Peel
Pour scotch into a mug and top with boiling water. Float the lemon peel.
Mexican Spiked Hot Chocolate
Who would have thought one of the best drinks for staying warm comes from a country that doesn’t have to deal with snow? The spice of the cayenne and the bite of the tequila make this drink the perfect solution to the cold.
The Ingredients
- 2 Cups Milk
- 1 Tablespoon Light Brown Sugar
- 4.5 Ounces Bittersweet Chocolate
- .5 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ⅛ Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 Pinch Cayenne Pepper
- 3 Ounces Of Reposado Tequila
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks For Garnish
Bring the milk and sugar to a simmer in a saucepan. Take off heat and add the chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon and cayenne to the milk. Whisk until the chocolate is dissolved. Bring back to a simmer and add tequila. Immediately take off heat and divide between two mugs. Add a cinnamon stick to each.
Images via Shutterstock.com
