The winter winds have spoken, and it will be an unseasonably cold winter this year across the U.S. Fortunately for us, our ancestors have been facing the cold for centuries without the help of snow blowers and electronic fireplaces, which is why they invented alcohol. Not really, but not far from the point. Whiskey does have its way soothing the chills of winter. So after taking off your layers send a little thanks for the drink recipes we are about to share with you to our thick-skinned ancestors who had only had regular wool and wood burning stoves.
First we have the good ol’ Irish Coffee:
Ingredients:
2 ounces Irish whiskey
5 to 6 ounces coffee
2 teasopoons sugar
heavy cream
Pour in whiskey, coffee, and sugar into a stemmed, heated glass mug. Stir, then top of with a thick layer of whipped heavy cream and enjoy.
For winter in the city we have the Emerald:
Ingredients:
2 ounces Irish whiskey
1 ounce Italian vermouth
1 dash orange bitters
Stir well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and enjoy.
And if you are entertaining during a snowstorm, give the Tom and Jerry a try:
Ingredients:
12 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 bottle brandy
Pinch of ground allspice
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves1 bottle dark rum
Milk
Numeg
Separate the eggs. Beat the whites until they form a stiff froth, and the yolks – to which you have added the sugar – “until they are as thin as water,” as the professor advises, gradually adding 4 ounces brandy and spices. Fold the whites into the yolks. When ready to serve, give it another stir and then put 1 tablespoon of this batter in a small mug or tumbler. Now add 1 ounce brandy (or bourbon) and 1 ounce Jamaican rum, stirring constantly to avoid curdling. Fill to the top with hot milk and stir until you get foam. Sprinkle a little grated nutmeg on top. Warning, this one may require practice and a certain amount of fiddling.
Find more cold weather cocktail recipes here.