Because our holiday parties tend to revolve around themes and menus of yesterday (I blame my house, it’s terribly 1950s to the extreme, and no, I wouldn’t change a thing), I wanted to experiment with a category of drinks that are probably better suited to Patagonia rather than Sunny Southern California: hot cocktails. Regardless of the outside temperature though, sipping a hot cocktail accomplishes two things: it warms your hands and tummy and makes you incredibly drunk. What’s not to enjoy about that? Besides, we can all sit around sipping cider or cocoa all the time, can we?
Here are 4 hot cocktails that will definitely be featured at my next shindig, no matter what the weather’s like. The suntan lotion, however, will be strictly optional.
Hot Frenchman
Would you care for a Hot Frenchman? Yesterday I enjoyed the tastiest Hot Frenchman. Why, I’d love a Hot Frenchman! Ok, I’ll stop. But I can’t stop chuckling over the title of this drink. It reminds me of this guy I met once who, wait. Nevermind. I’m married and this is a family blog. Anyway, this is nothing more than a warm basic sangria, in which case it would be a Hot Spaniard? That reminds me that once in Sitges a few years ago… oh Matt, be quiet.
4 oz red wine
3/4 oz orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 oz orange juice
1/4 oz lemon juice
1 twist orange peel
1 twist lemon peel
Heat well in a heat-resistant glass or cup. Stir, add twists of lemon and orange peel, and serve. Ooh la la!
Hot Buttered Rum
This is the most basic of recipes for a hot buttered rum. Personally, I find that adding 3 lbs of butter and a gallon of vanilla ice cream to my cup makes it just a little bit richer. Just a little bit.
1 oz light rum
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp butter
4 cloves
Add the sugar, butter and cloves to a coffee mug. Pour the rum, and stir well. Fill with boiling water. Stir again, and serve. Repeat seven times.
Rum Hot Toddy
The history of the Hot Toddy goes back several hundreds of years. It probably began in the Bible because they didn’t have ice makers so they all drank their cocktails hot, hence "HOT" Toddy. Get it? Good. I’ll have another.
1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup spiced rum
4 tablespoons honey
3 cups boiling water
4 cinnamon sticks
4 lemon slices
Spread sugar on small plate. Dip rims of mugs into cold water. Dip moistened rims of mugs into sugar. Mix rum and honey in 4-cup measuring cup. Add 3 cups boiling water; stir to blend. Divide hot toddy among prepared mugs. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and lemon slices and serve.
Bumbo
Like many cocktails, there are endless variations on recipes. I like this one because I like to pretend I have a sore throat and the heat and alcohol will heal me and make me feel better. Go with it.
2 oz gold rum
1 oz lime juice
1 tsp caster sugar
2 oz hot water
Add to heatproof cup and allow the sugar to dissolve. Dust with nutmeg.
-- Also published on MattBites.com