Raise A Glass To The Start Of Winter With These Cozy Cocktails

Ready to curl up by the fire with a seasonal sip? Celebrate the first day of winter (Thursday, December 21) with one of these cozy cocktails.

The OTT (over the top) Irish Coffee: (Created by Joaquín Simó of Pouring Ribbons)

1.5 oz. Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey

.25 oz. rich (2:1) Demerara Syrup

5 oz. Hot Coffee

Cozy at the Orchard. (Courtesy Photo)

5 drops Saline Solution (or a tiny pinch kosher salt)

3 Cardamom Pods

Cream*, for garnish

Directions: Pour coffee into glass. Add the rest of ingredients and stir. Top with cream.

*Cream:

5-6 oz. Heavy Cream

2 tbsp White Sugar

Zest from 1 Orange

2 Dashes Regan’s No 6 Orange Bitters

Directions: Pour heavy cream, sugar and bitters into bowl and whisk on high speed until medium to stiff peaks form, about 1 minute. Add zest.

Cozy at the Orchard:

4 oz. Angry Orchard Crisp Apple

1.5 oz. Brown Butter Washed Bourbon*

.5 oz. Cinnamon Syrup*

.25 oz. Lemon Juice

Directions: Add all ingredients in a pot and heat until warm. Do not boil. When warmed, add to toddy glass and garnish with grated nutmeg.

*Brown Butter Washed Bourbon:

4 oz. Butter

750 ml Bourbon

Topsy Turvy. (Courtesy Photo)

Directions: Warm a pan over medium high heat. Add butter and allow to melt. Cook until slightly browned. Pour whiskey into a quart sized container. Add browned butter to the whiskey. Cover mixture and place in the freezer overnight or until butter separates and becomes hard. Strain mixture through a fine strainer. Pour back into original bottle and store in the fridge.

*Cinnamon Syrup:

1 cup Sugar

1 cup Water

5 Cinnamon Sticks

Directions: Add sugar, water and cinnamon sticks to a pot and bring to a boil. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Remove cinnamon sticks with the slotted spoon.

Topsy Turvy: (Created by Jeremy Oertel)

2 oz. Carpano Antica

1 oz. Lock Stock & Barrel Rye

1 tsp. Borghetti Coffee Liqueur

1 dash Mole Bitters (preferably Bittermens)

Orange Twist, for garnish

Directions: Add ingredients to shaker and shake with ice. Strain into Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

#SleepyKeech. (Courtesy Photo)

#SleepyKeech: (Created by Ryan Andrews, Prohibition Lounge)

Home for the Holidays. (Courtesy Photo)

2 oz. Jägermeister

1/2 oz. Pear-Clove-Cinnamon Shrub

1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

Top with hot Apple Cider

Charred Cinnamon Stick or Caramelized Cinnamon Apple, for garnish

Directions: Combine Jägermeister, Pear-Clove-Cinnamon Shrub, and lemon juice. Top with apple cider. Garnish with charred cinnamon stick or caramelized cinnamon apple.

Home for the Holidays: (Created by Pete Canny, The Wayland and The Lost Lady)

2 oz. Patrón Silver

.75 oz. Lemon Juice

.75 oz. Allspice Syrup

.5 oz. Cocchi Americano

1 Egg White

Silver Luster Dust

Directions: Add Patrón, Lemon Juice, Allspice Syrup and Cocchi Americano to shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a glass mug over ice. In separate shaker, dry shake egg white. Add Silver Luster Dust to mug and stir. Top with egg white foam, and garnish with a miniature gingerbread house.

Hot Buttered Boulevardier. (Courtesy Photo)

Hot Buttered Boulevardier: (Created by Kate Bolton of Maven in Portland, Oregon)

3/4 oz. Campari

1 1/2 oz. Russel’s Reserve Bourbon

3/4 oz. Cinzano 1757

1 Tbsp. Maple Butter*

1 dash Vanilla Extract

3 oz. Boiling Water

Directions: In a footed glass or mug add bourbon, Campari, sweet vermouth, maple butter and vanilla. Pour hot water on top and stir briskly until butter is dissolved and well-integrated. Garnish with a clover-studded half orange wheel and a star anise pod.

*Maple Butter:

1/2 lb Unsalted Butter

5 Tbsp Maple Syrup

1/2 tsp. Salt

Directions: Using a robot coup or Vitamix whip all ingredients until smooth.