Warm Drinks for Cold Colorado Nights
Warm Drinks for Cold Colorado Nights
Warm Drinks for Cold Colorado Nights
Once the temperature starts dropping in the Vail Valley, a cold beer or an iced cocktail can start to feel like the wrong move. After a day on the mountain, a walk around town, or just shoveling the driveway, there’s nothing better than wrapping your hands around something warm. The good news is that most of the best warm drinks are easy to make at home and only take a few ingredients.
The hot toddy is the classic for a reason. All you need is whiskey, honey, lemon, and hot water. Add about an ounce and a half of bourbon or rye to a mug, stir in a spoonful of honey and a squeeze of lemon, then top it off with hot water. A cinnamon stick or a couple of cloves makes it even better. Bourbon will give you a sweeter, rounder drink, and rye will give it a little more spice.
Irish coffee is perfect for weekend mornings or after dinner. Brew a strong cup of coffee, stir in a little brown sugar, then add Irish whiskey. The key is the topping. Lightly whip some heavy cream until it’s thick but still pourable, then gently pour it over the back of a spoon so it floats on top. You drink the hot coffee through the cool cream, and it’s hard to go back once you’ve had one made right.
Mulled wine is great for a crowd. Pour a bottle or two of an inexpensive, fruity red into a pot, then add orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and a little sugar or honey. Some people add a splash of brandy for an extra kick. Keep it on low heat and let it warm for about 20 to 30 minutes. Just don’t let it boil. Too much heat cooks off the alcohol and can make the wine taste bitter. You don’t need anything fancy here, so save the nice bottles for dinner.
Spiked cider might be the easiest of them all. Heat up some apple cider on the stove with a cinnamon stick, pour it into a mug, and add bourbon, spiced rum, or apple brandy. It tastes like fall in a cup and it’s one of those drinks that makes the whole house smell amazing.
If you want to try something a little more old school, hot buttered rum is worth the effort. Mix softened butter with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt, then drop a spoonful into a mug with dark or spiced rum and top it with hot water. It’s rich, sweet, and exactly what you want on a snowy night.
A couple of quick tips no matter what you’re making. Warm your mug first by filling it with hot water for a minute, so your drink stays hot longer. And go a little easy on the pour. Warm drinks tend to go down fast, and alcohol can hit a little harder up here at altitude.
Whether you’re hosting après at home or just staying in for the night, a good warm drink makes cold weather feel a lot more welcome.
Stop by Boone’s Wine & Spirits and grab everything you need. We can point you toward the right whiskey, rum, or wine for whatever you’re planning to mix up.
