Chilly Weather Calls for Warm Beverages Mon, Dec 12, 22 | recipes The weather outside might be frightful, but these warm drinks are oh-so-delightful! It’s time to break out your favorite mug and curl up under a fuzzy blanket with a boozy beverage in hand. After last week’s snow, we sure could use a hot drink! Peppermint Mocha Add decadence and booze to your morning cup of joe with this Peppermint Mocha recipe. It’s the perfect warm drink for family gatherings over the holidays — we all know that a little bit of booze is the only way to survive the constant questions from Aunt Nancy. We recommend using Jackson Morgan Peppermint Mocha for the liqueur. It’s wonderfully creamy, and we can’t get enough! What You Need: 2 cups milk (any kind) ¼ cup heavy cream 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped 1 cup brewed espresso ½ teaspoon peppermint extract ¼ cup Jackson Morgan Peppermint Mocha Cream Liqueur Instructions: In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk and cream to a gentle simmer. Place the chocolate in a medium, heat proof bowl. Pour the heated milk and cream mixture over the chocolate and let sit for 2-3 minutes. Stir until chocolate is smooth and incorporated. Add in the espresso, peppermint extract and Jackson Morgan Peppermint Mocha Cream Liqueur. Serve mixture into 2-3 mugs. Top with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and crushed candy cane. Spiked Apple Cider This recipe will keep you warm from the inside out even when there is snow on the ground! Keep it simple and elevate your seasonal apple cider with a touch of cinnamon whiskey. You can go for tried-and-true Fireball or opt for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire or Bird Dog Hot Cinnamon. What You Need: 1/2 gallon of apple cider 2 – 3 cinnamon sticks (more if using for garnish) Cinnamon whiskey Instructions: Begin by pouring the apple cider into a crockpot. Add cinnamon sticks and allow it to heat up completely. Once the apple cider comes to your ideal temperature, put the crockpot on warm. You can technically keep it like this all day long and let it simmer away. When it’s time to serve, leave a little room on the top of each mug for whiskey. Add 1 ½ ounce of whiskey to the mugs for the perfect kick! Hot Toddy When life gives you lemons, make a hot toddy! This classic, cold-curing drink will keep you nice and toasty during Denver’s cold winter months. We recommend picking a whiskey that’s strong enough to add flavor and character without getting too watered down. Wild Turkey or George Dickel No. 12 are both great options because of their delightful hints of butterscotch, caramel and vanilla. What You Need: ¾ cup water 1 ½ ounces whiskey 2 to 3 teaspoons honey, to taste 2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste 1 lemon round 1 cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish) Instructions: In a teapot or saucepan, bring the water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug. Add the whiskey, 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water. Taste, and add 1 teaspoon honey for more sweetness, and/or 1 teaspoon more lemon juice for more zing. Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick (if using). Enjoy! Mulled Wine If you haven’t tried mulled red wine during the holiday season, you’re missing out! This warm drink will hit the spot for a cozy night in. We recommend using a German Dornfelder like P J Valckenberg Dornfelder Sweet Red or Relax Cool Red Blend. You could also opt for your favorite Pinot Noir! What You Need: 1 (750ml) bottle red wine 1 orange, sliced into rounds, plus more for garnish 6 whole cloves 3 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish 3 star anise 1/4 c. honey 1/2 c. brandy (Christian Brothers VS Brandy or E & J VS Brandy are both great options) Instructions: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients. Bring to a simmer—not a boil—then reduce heat to medium-low. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Serve warm and garnish with more citrus slices and cinnamon sticks. Let us know what you think of these warm adult bevs! We’ll be serving them up for the holidays and all ski season long. Denver winter, we’re ready for you!
