Four Warming Cocktails to Enjoy Over Winter
In most parts of Australia, winter is all too fleeting. We barely have time to unpack our winter wardrobe when the evenings are suddenly feeling balmy and thongs appear back on feet missing tan lines. Which means it's even more important to appreciate the delight of rugging up and indulging in some comfort food and drinks.
The Danes have a great word - hygge - which means cosy. I discovered this word in Copenhagen - but my Danish host was at pains to try to make me aware I didn't truly understand the concept - it doesn't just mean cosy - it embodies the way of life of cosiness. It is as much of a mindset as it is a verb. While it isn't minus eight outside, it may not even be as low as plus eight, it is still worth donning a scarf for the fashion, and one of these warming cocktails for the hygge.
Hot Buttered Toddy
If you didn't get excited by the word butter, then we can't be friends. A good way to test a new love interest is to cook in front of them. Keep adding butter while maintaining eye contact. If they look like they're getting turned on, they're a keeper.
This drink is great to batch, make loads and stick it in a thermos for happy drinking with friends long into the evening. If you're making this for a large number of friends, simply multiply by the number of serves you are aiming for (below is for one serve).
Ingredients:
10g butter
10g brown sugar
2 cinnamon quills
0.2g nutmeg
10ml orange juice
60ml boiling water
Method:
Add butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange juice to a bowl, mix together into a paste, add gin and boiling water. Stir until dissolved.
Proud Mary
This is a brilliant wintery twist on the classic.
Ingredients:
100ml V8 Purple Power Juice
30ml lemon juice
10ml Worcestershire sauce
5 dashes of Tabasco sauce
5ml balsamic vinegar
pinch of salt and some cracked pepper
garnish with fresh leafy vegetables such as purple basil, rainbow chard or basil
Method:
Combine all ingredients over ice in a highball glass, stir until consistent. Garnish enthusiastically.
Wine and Gin Sour
This is a nifty drink if you have a little splash of red wine leftover from a few days ago. Not only is it a dream to look at but it's just as delicious on the palate. If you can get your hands on some rose tea you can garnish with a dusting of rose petals.
Ingredients:
30ml full-bodied red wine
30ml lemon juice
15ml sugar syrup
10ml egg white
Method:
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker without ice, add ice and shake again. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with rose petals.
Blue Agave
If you flat out refuse to accept that it's winter at any time of the year and you damn well want to drink a tropical drink all the time then this one is for you:
Ingredients:
10ml Blue Curacao
30ml lime juice
10ml agave syrup
1 small pinch of salt
Method:
Shake all ingredients and strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass, garnish with a fancy geometric wafer of pear.