The short version: cold weather calls for a mug, not a coupe. Here are ten warm, spiked classics — from the crowd-pleasers to a couple you'll want to steal for your next gathering. Most scale up beautifully for a party.
1. Mulled Wine
Gently warm red wine with orange, cinnamon, star anise, cloves and a little sugar. Never boil it — you'll cook off the alcohol and the aroma.
2. Hot Toddy
Whiskey, hot water, honey, lemon. The classic cold-weather (and sore-throat) cure-all.
3. Irish Coffee
Hot coffee, Irish whiskey, brown sugar, a float of lightly whipped cream. Pour the cream over the back of a spoon so it layers.
4. Hot Buttered Rum
Dark rum, hot water, and a spoon of spiced butter batter (butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg). Pure comfort.
5. Spiked Hot Chocolate
Rich cocoa with a shot of bourbon, dark rum, or peppermint schnapps.
6. Mulled Cider
Apple cider warmed with the same mulling spices, spiked with dark rum or bourbon.
7. Glögg
The Nordic take on mulled wine — spiced, fortified with a splash of port or brandy, served with raisins and almonds.
8. Spiked Chai Toddy
Strong chai, a measure of spiced rum or bourbon, a touch of honey. Winter in a mug.
9. Hot Apple Pie
Warm cider, a shot of spiced rum, a cinnamon stick — tastes exactly like it sounds.
10. Tom & Jerry
The vintage holiday showstopper: a frothy batter of egg, sugar and spice topped with brandy, rum, and hot milk.
🍐 A little hat tip to the pear
The holidays are a marathon of toasts — the goal is to be present for all of them. Gush, the Korean pear pre-drink, is a small ritual before the first mug so the season feels merry, not rough. Meet Gush →
Please drink responsibly.