Seasonal cocktails
What to drink as the weather turns.
- Winter cocktailsWinter cocktail recipes: mulled wine, hot toddies and Irish coffee, plus rich stirred drinks like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan and Boulevardier.29 recipes
- Mulled and hot drinksHot cocktails and mulled drinks for cold nights: mulled wine, mulled cider, hot toddy, Irish coffee, hot buttered rum and more.11 recipes
- Christmas cocktailsChristmas cocktail recipes with UK measures: Buck's Fizz for the morning, mulled wine and Snowballs for the afternoon, and Espresso Martinis after dinner.23 recipes
- New Year's Eve cocktailsSparkling and celebratory cocktails for New Year's Eve: French 75, Champagne Cocktail, Kir Royale, Old Cuban and more.15 recipes
- Burns Night cocktailsScotch whisky cocktails for Burns Night on 25 January: the Bobby Burns, Rob Roy, Rusty Nail, Blood and Sand, Penicillin and Hot Toddy.8 recipes
- Dry January drinksAlcohol-free drinks for Dry January that are worth the effort: spritzes, sours, long coolers and a proper Virgin Mary.23 recipes
- Valentine's Day cocktailsValentine's Day cocktail recipes with UK measures: Pornstar Martini, French Martini, Kir Royale, Rossini, Chocolate Martini and alcohol-free options.22 recipes
Should winter drinks be hot or cold
Choose hot when you are coming in from the cold or sitting for a while, and cold when you want something strong and slow. A hot toddy or mulled wine warms you quickly. A stirred drink such as an Old Fashioned or Manhattan is served cold, but it still feels like winter because it is built on whisky, vermouth and bitters.
For one person, a single hot cocktail is easy. For a group, use a pan, because mulled and hot drinks keep warm on the lowest heat while you get on with the evening. The winter cocktails page covers both kinds.
Using spice in winter cocktails
Cinnamon, cloves, star anise, allspice and nutmeg are the usual winter spices. In hot drinks, use them whole, such as a cinnamon stick or a few cloves, and warm the drink gently. Boiling makes spices bitter, and it drives off the alcohol in wine.
In cold drinks, a little goes a long way. Fresh nutmeg grated over eggnog or a Brandy Alexander is enough. If a spiced drink will sit for a long time, strain the spices out so it does not turn bitter.
Citrus in winter
Winter is citrus season, so oranges, clementines and lemons are easy to find and taste good. Orange slices and peel go into mulled drinks, and an orange twist finishes an Old Fashioned. Lemon and honey are the base of a hot toddy.
Citrus also balances rich and sweet drinks. A little lemon juice keeps a hot whisky drink from tasting heavy, and a squeeze of orange brightens a spiced one. Use fresh fruit and squeeze it just before you mix, because bottled juice tastes flat next to the spices.
If you are making a batch, cut the orange into slices rather than squeezing it, so the flavour stays gentle as the pan sits on the hob.
Which seasonal page to use
The winter calendar runs from December to January, and each date has its own page. Christmas cocktails cover the day itself, and New Year cocktails are mostly sparkling drinks for midnight.
Burns Night cocktails are built around Scotch, for 25 January. Dry January drinks are alcohol-free, for anyone taking a month off. Whichever you choose, put water on the table and offer an alcohol-free option.
Questions people ask
Should winter cocktails be served hot or cold?
Either works, so choose by weather and setting. Hot drinks such as mulled wine and a hot toddy warm you up quickly. Stirred drinks such as the Old Fashioned are served cold but use winter flavours like whisky, orange peel and bitters. Hot drinks suit a cold night in.
What spices go in winter cocktails?
The usual winter spices are cinnamon, cloves, star anise, allspice and nutmeg. Use whole spices in hot drinks and warm them gently, because boiling makes them bitter. Grate nutmeg fresh over creamy drinks such as eggnog, since ground nutmeg loses its aroma quickly.
What citrus fruit is in season in winter?
Winter is citrus season, and oranges, clementines and lemons are easy to find. They suit winter drinks as peel, slices and juice. Orange slices go into mulled wine, and lemon juice goes into a hot toddy to balance the honey and whisky.
What is a good winter drink that is not mulled wine?
A hot toddy is the simplest alternative, made with whisky, honey, lemon and hot water. Irish coffee is another warm choice. Mulled cider or white mulled wine suit people who find red wine heavy. For a cold drink, try a stirred Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
What can I drink in winter without alcohol?
Warm drinks made without alcohol are the best swap, such as mulled apple juice or hot lemon, honey and ginger. They use the same spices and are served in the same way. Dry January drinks have more ideas, including sparkling and savoury options for evenings in.
When is Burns Night?
Burns Night is on 25 January, the birthday of the poet Robert Burns, who was born in 1759. A traditional supper includes haggis, neeps and tatties, and toasts with whisky. Scotch cocktails such as the Rusty Nail and Rob Roy suit the evening.