19 Best Cold Weather Cocktails

Warm Up With a Cozy Mixed Drink or Two

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 11/15/21
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The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

There are many great cocktails that will warm you right up when the weather gets cold. Brandy, rum, and whiskey are included in many of the best recipes for winter days, but not all of the drinks are served hot. While spiked coffee, tea, and cocoa drinks are comforting, even cold drinks can take the chill out of your bones, especially when they feature the tastes of the season.

  • 01 of 19

    Irish Coffee

    Original Irish Coffee Recipe

    The Spruce Eats

    There's no better way to spike your coffee than with a classic Irish coffee. It's an iconic drink that will long remain a favorite, and it's much simpler than its reputation makes it seem. All you need is Irish whiskey, sugar, cream, and the richest, most robust coffee you can brew.

  • 02 of 19

    Hot Toddy

    Hot Toddy

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    It's hard to beat a hot toddy on a cold day. It's a drink that you can take in any direction you like to fit your mood, taste, or whatever you have on hand. Rum, whiskey, and brandy are common, and the basic hot toddy is a perfect venue for your favorite winter tea. Add honey as a sweetener, give it a squeeze of lemon juice, and a fantastic drink is yours to enjoy.

  • 03 of 19

    Bloody Mary

    Bloody Mary Cocktail

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    Watching the game on a snowy morning? The bloody Mary is the ultimate drink for such moments. It's an ingenious creation that also comes in many varieties. You can make it as spicy as you like, mix in a different juice like Clamato, or switch out the vodka for another spirit.

  • 04 of 19

    Hot Buttered Rum

    Hot buttered rum with cinnamon stick.

     The Spruce Eats

    Sweet, spicy, and warm, it doesn't get much more relaxing than ​hot buttered rum after a long winter day. It's a fantastic fireside cocktail, and you can prepare the batter ahead of time to make it even easier when guests stop by.

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  • 05 of 19

    Rusty Nail

    Rusty Nail

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    For a warm-up on the rocks, this scotch and Drambuie cocktail is an excellent choice. Despite being chilled, the rusty nail's smoky, honeyed, herbal flavor does an excellent job of warming you up.

  • 06 of 19

    B&B

    Brandy and Benedictine cocktail recipe

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    This B&B cocktail is smooth and subtle in its simplicity. Made of brandy and Bénédictine, this classic cocktail deserves a good brandy. Served at room temperature in a snifter, it's a surprisingly cozy drink.

    What Is Brandy? brandy varieties illustration
  • 07 of 19

    Classic Manhattan

    Classic Manhattan cocktail recipe

    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    If you're looking for a martini-style cocktail that's ideal for chilly days, the classic Manhattan is perfect. Make it with rye, bourbon, or Canadian whisky, and pair it with your favorite sweet vermouth. Each style and brand of whiskey will give it a different nuance, so you can spend the entire winter exploring the options.

  • 08 of 19

    Gingerbread Hot Chocolate

    Spiked gingerbread hot chocolate recipe

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

    What would winter be without a steaming cup of hot chocolate? Amplify the luscious drink by creating gingerbread syrup, then use it in this gingerbread hot chocolate recipe. It's spiked with either spiced rum or ginger vodka and is absolutely delightful.

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  • 09 of 19

    Tom and Jerry

    Tom and Jerry Cocktail

    The Spruce Eats

    The Tom and Jerry is a favorite for the holidays. There are still a few bars that serve this old-fashioned drink up for patrons on special occasions. It's best described as warm eggnog that's made with both brandy and dark rum, and it's a fantastic classic.

  • 10 of 19

    Cinnamon Toasty

    Cinnamon Toasty Shot (aka Tomahawk Shooter)

     E+ / Getty Images

    The cinnamon toasty is a shot that is guaranteed to warm you up. The combination of cinnamon schnapps and amaretto tastes great, and this shot is unbelievably smooth and satisfying. It can quickly become a new favorite.

  • 11 of 19

    Sneaky Pete

    Sneaky Pete Rye Whiskey Cocktail Recipe

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    If you enjoy a white Russian but want something with a little more dimension, give the sneaky Pete a try. Rather than vodka, it pours a shot of rye whiskey, so the creamy coffee-flavored drink has a warming spiced background.

  • 12 of 19

    Snowball Shooter

    Snowball Shot With Brandy

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    This fun little snowball shooter mixes two favorite flavors of winter to create a tasty mint-chocolate shot. Pick up your favorite peppermint schnapps and chocolate liqueur, then mix them with brandy. It's quick and delicious.

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  • 13 of 19

    Café Amore

    Cafe Amore Hot Coffee Cocktail
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    Spiked coffee drinks are typically not over complicated, though you can create a more interesting flavor by combining spirits. For the café amore, you'll pour equal amounts of cognac and amaretto for a semi-sweet nutty brandy taste that's perfect for coffee. Enjoy it as is, or dress it up with a heaping pile of whipped cream and shaved almonds.

    10 Ways to Improve Your Morning Coffee cup of coffee
  • 14 of 19

    Hot Gin Toddy

    Hot Gin Toddy Cocktail
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    While most toddies prefer dark spirits, the hot gin toddy offers an intoxicating array of aromatics. This steaming cocktail gives new life to the botanicals of a great gin, simply enhancing them with hot water, lemon, and sugar.

  • 15 of 19

    Brandy Old-Fashioned

    Brandy Old-Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
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    It's just plain cold in Wisconsin during the winter! Drinkers in the state warm up in style with the brandy old-fashioned. One taste of this reimagined whiskey cocktail will show you why it's a local favorite.

  • 16 of 19

    Serbian Hot Brandy

    Serbian hot brandy recipe

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

    A holiday tradition in Serbia, vruca rakija is a potent libation worth trying anytime you want a warm, toasty drink. The Serbian hot brandy recipe features slivovitz (a plum brandy) heated with caramelized sugar and water. To keep it authentic, make a winter project out of creating your own plum brandy. The infusion should take about one month and is a great use for frozen plums.

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  • 17 of 19

    Christmas Mule

    Christmas mule cocktail

    The Spruce Eats

    Even carbonated beverages can stand up to a bit of heat. In the Christmas mule recipe, you'll gently warm ginger beer to open up the flavor and create a comforting foundation waiting for a shot of pear vodka. Don't forget the cinnamon stick, as it infuses the Moscow mule-inspired drink with an extra flavor that marries the other two ingredients.

  • 18 of 19

    White Cosmo

    White Cosmo

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    There's no need to pass up fruity vodka martinis when the winter winds blow. You simply need to find a more seasonally appropriate recipe, and the white cosmo is a great place to start. It's a mix of citrus vodka, elderflower liqueur, and white cranberry juice adorned with sugar-dusted cranberries, and it is a lovely little drink.

  • 19 of 19

    Spiced Pomegranate Martini

    Moroccan Pomegranate Vodka Cocktail

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    Pomegranate is a winter fruit, and it makes a fantastic drink mixer. Adding a hint of sweet spice transforms the average pom martini into a cold-weather delight. The spiced pomegranate martini does just that with a fascinating cardamom simple syrup, which is easy to make from scratch.