31 Delicious Winter Drinks
Warm up winter with a special mocha, hot cider, mulled wine, glass of bubbly, or fizzy mocktail.
While every season has its selection of delicious seasonal drinks, winter’s lineup is particularly stacked. With all the spices, sweets, and fruits connected to the season, plus the added decadence of hot drinks, winter brings with it lots of opportunities to create impressive drinks that really taste like the season.
For boozy drinks, mulled wines and spiced ciders are always good, perfect for big gatherings, and full of spice and holiday flavor. Of course, there are plenty of new twists on the classics too, like a coconut eggnog or a hot mojito tea.
Or if you’re looking for something a little more family-friendly, you can go classic with all kinds of hot chocolate, from white chocolate with marshmallows to rich chocolate with vanilla bean and caramel sauce, or a non-alcoholic take on a classic Christmas kir. But there are also new creations like a hot cranberry and ginger punch with lime for a little acidity, and a fall take on a hot cider, with honey and star anise. And with a splash of your favorite spirit, most of these can be turned into adult drinks anyways.
All of these drinks recipes are great for any winter day, whether you’re at a big holiday gathering or just spending a cozy night in away from the cold.
Layered Mocha
Sip hot chocolate through layers of hot espresso and thick, cold cream in this deconstructed mocha.
Recipe: Layered Mocha
Orange-Scented Mulled Wine
Warm coriander and pungent cardamom―instead of the usual cinnamon―give this traditional spiced wine an earthy floral twist.
–Inspired by Megan Nordtvedt, Seattle
Recipe: Orange-Scented Mulled Wine
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Cranberry and Spice Tea “Toddies”
Perfect for revelers of all ages, this lightly sweet herbal tea goes well with cookies and other desserts.
– Inspired by Dianne Yoss, Tustin, CA
Coconut Eggnog
Try this rich Puerto Rican–style treat with or without the rum.
– Inspired by Mike Siwek, Phoenix
Recipe: Coconut Eggnog
Pomegranate Fizzies
You can throw these sparklers―dressed-up kir royales―together as guests walk in the door.
– Inspired by Cassandra LaValle, Seattle
Recipe: Pomegranate Fizzies
Warm Apple Pie Cocktail
This dessert-themed beverage, a cousin of rum punch, lives up to its evocative name.
– Inspired by Elizabeth Hummert, Boise
Recipe: Warm Apple Pie Cocktail
Brandied Hot Chocolate
On a chilly day, our grown-up version–rich with bittersweet chocolate and punched up with French brandy–will warm you to your toes.
Recipe: Brandied Hot Chocolate
Thanksgiving Star Cider
Our favorite new holiday beverage is a delicious hot cider made with honey and steeped with dried hibiscus blossoms.
Recipe: Thanksgiving Star Cider
Pear Sidecar
This sweet (but not too sweet) drink should be made one at a time in a cocktail shaker. Energetic shaking and a proper drink-to-ice ratio―possible only in a shaker―are key: The ice dilutes and softens the cocktail, encouraging the otherwise sharp flavors to meld together.
Recipe: Pear Sidecar
Marmalade Sours
This take on a classic whiskey sour uses marmalade in lieu of simple syrup to sweeten the mix. The extra citrus flavor and chewy bits of orange peel will convert any neophyte to the magic of this versatile drink.
Recipe: Marmalade Sours
Spiced Rum Cider
Steep warm spices in cider, then spike the drink with a generous dose of dark rum.
Recipe: Spiced Rum Cider
Mulled Cranberry Wine Punch
Replace red wine with apple juice and omit liqueur to make a non-alcoholic punch.
Recipe: Mulled Cranberry Wine Punch
Hot Cranberry-Ginger Punch
Cranberry juice gets infused with a kick of ginger and spiked with lime juice for a warming winter drink that the whole family can enjoy.
Recipe: Hot Cranberry-Ginger Punch
Hot White Chocolate
It’s everything we love about dessert, only more portable and fun to hold in your hands.
Recipe: Hot White Chocolate
Champagne Cocktails
Once a widely popular and sophisticated drink, the Champagne Cocktail fell out of favor for decades, deemed sweet and silly. We find it to be neither. The sugar and bitters balance the natural acidity of sparkling wine, and the cocktail pairs very well with both creamy cheese and earthy mushrooms.
Recipe: Champagne Cocktails
Infused Vodkas
Our infusions range from traditional caraway to updated saffron-orange.
Recipe: Infused Vodkas
Crimson Spice Champagne Cocktail
Lemon-lime or club soda can be used in place of cognac and Champagne for a nonalcoholic version.
Recipe: Crimson Spice Champagne Cocktail
Sparkling Spice Mocktail
A lively, aromatic, fizzy fluteful that makes a good non-alcoholic stand-in for a kir royale.
Recipe: Sparkling Spice Mocktail
Upside-Down Martini
Combine Interrobang Recipe No. 73 white vermouth, London dry gin such as Tanqueray, Angostura bitters and a lemon twist to make this drink.
Recipe: Upside-Down Martini
West Coast Manhattan
Combine Matthiasson sweet vermouth, rye whiskey, and orange bitters to create this drink.
Recipe: West Coast Manhattan
Wine Country Americano
Make this cocktail with Vya sweet vermouth, Aperol, and brut sparkling wine.
Recipe: Wine Country Americano
Christmas Kir
This wintertime take on the classic French aperitif substitutes cranberry elements for crème de cassis.
Recipe: Christmas Kir
Mocha Nog
This decadent spin on egg nog involves chocolate, Kahlua, and Frangelico.
Recipe: Mocha Nog
Hot Mojito Tea
Mojitos are traditionally served cold. In this winter party-ready version, we’ve turned the temperature up but still keep the mood tropical with mint sprig and lime slice garnishes.
Recipe: Hot Mojito Tea
Sleepy Hollow Cider
Pumpkin- and vanilla bean-infused vodka mixed with spiced cider forms the ultimate cool-season drink.
Recipe: Sleepy Hollow Cider
Totally Decadent Hot Chocolate
If the combo of chocolate and vanilla bean wasn’t enough to get your attention, we’ve got two words for you: caramel sauce. As in, mixed in.
Recipe: Totally Decadent Hot Chocolate
Cranberry-Wine Aperitif
We recommend making this at least one week ahead (or even up to four weeks in advance) for maximum flavor.
Recipe: Cranberry-Wine Aperitif
Mulled Pineapple Wine Punch
This fruity punch is made with a dry white and a dessert wine, but for a nonalcoholic version, you can substitute white grape juice for the wines.
Recipe: Mulled Pineapple Wine Punch
Aromatic Ginger Tea
A cardamom- and ginger-warmed tea that can be served hot (with milk) or on ice.
Recipe: Aromatic Ginger Tea
