Cool Drinks for Cold Days - Hot Beverages with Style

Welcome to the mid-point of Winter—Valentine's Day has come and gone, and with it many of the sexy cocktails that kept you entertained and enamored.  This month, we have decided to explore hot elixirs that are as cool as they are warmly enchanting.
 

According to Wikipedia, a Hot Toddy is defined as “a mixed drink made of liquor and water with sugar and spices and served hot. Hot toddy recipes vary and are traditionally drunk before going to bed, or in wet or cold weather.”

We offer the following recipes as variations of the Hot Toddy to keep you toasty as you weather the remainder of winter.

Classic Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

• 1 oz brandy, whiskey or rum
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1/4 lemon
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 tea bag

Preparation:

Coat the bottom of a mug or an Irish coffee glass with honey.  Add the liquor and the juice of the lemon quarter.  On the side, heat water in a tea kettle and add the tea bag to make hot tea.  Pour the steaming tea into the glass and stir.

 

Hot Buttered Rum

Ingredients:

• 1 small slice soft butter
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• optional spices to taste: ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, allspice
• vanilla extract
• 2 oz dark rum
• hot water

Preparation:

Place the butter, sugar and spices at the bottom of an Irish coffee glass or mug.  Mix well or muddle.  Pour in the rum and hot water.  Stir.

French Connection Coffee (Also known as Café Amore)

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Cognac
• 1 oz amaretto
• black coffee
• whipped cream
• shaved almonds for garnish

Preparation:

Pour the Cognac and amaretto into an Irish coffee glass.  Fill with hot coffee.  Top with whipped cream.  Garnish with shaved almonds.

We hope that you are inspired to seek the warmth of these hot, yet socially cool winter drinks.  Again, you are encouraged to use your imagination, and take note from these cocktails presented as inspiration.   Entertaining with intimate groups can be effortless with these beverages, but if you really want to wow a large crowd, feel free to engage the services of a certified mixologist, like SMS Mixology, so that you can get quality cocktails, guest service, and be freed up to enjoy your event.  Drink responsibly, explore and enjoy the rest of winter with the Spirits of Style!

Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Be Svelte in the Spirits of Style for 2012!

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2012!  We have noticed that every new year begins with a spirit of restraint.  For the last two months, everyone has indulged in the most decadent foods and beverages.  January brings us back to reality consuming in a manner that will be more health conscious.  While cocktails are not health foods by any means, we have done some research, and would like to inspire you with some options that will allow you to imbibe for less than 100 calories per cocktail.  While you are honoring your resolutions for healthier living, you will still be able to enjoy yourself.

 

Skinny Iced Tea

Ingredients:

1 shot Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka

Sugar-free lemonade (Minute Maid Light or Crystal Light)

Lemon wedge for garnish

Directions: Fill 1 glass with ice, pour 1 shot of Firefly, fill glass with light lemonade, and garnish with lemon wedge.  Calories: 70 (approximate)

Fruity White Sangria

Ingredients:

12-oz. can mango juice

12-oz. can pineapple juice

Liter bottle of seltzer

1 Bottle white wine

1 Cup cubed fruit (pineapple, orange, etc.)

Ice

Directions: Cube fruit. Pour all the ingredients into a serving pitcher and add ice. Stir and refrigerate so flavors blend. Makes 10 eight-ounce servings.

Calories: 94 (Calorie count varies based on fruit used.)

Bellini

Ingredients

2 oz Dry Champagne

3 oz  Peach Juice

1/8 Peach Wedge

Directions: 

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake for 10-15 seconds. Be careful shaking the beverage, because it includes carbonation.  You can wrap the shaker in a towel before shaking. Pour into a 5oz champagne flute, garnish and serve.

Try any of these excellent low calorie cocktails on for size!  They provide a great way to entertain while keeping the resolution to watch your caloric intake.  Keep in mind, however, if you need to serve any kind of mixed drinks to a large group, seek the skills of a professional.  SMS Mixology provides tastefully unique beverages, and services that will allow you to mix and mingle with your guests, instead of being stuck in the background mixing drinks.  Enjoy 2012, beginning with the Spirits of Style!

Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!