A Modern Twist on Classic Winter Cocktails

A perfectly appointed mixed drink will warm you up after a long day or spice up an evening out. Whiskey, Bourbon, and cognac are reliable choices for bartenders, but there are many other spirits that can elevate your game whether you are hosting friends or relaxing solo.

This year is a nod to all things ‘old’, whether it is crafting a drink after a long ‘zoom’ day or sipping fireside after a day on the slopes. The cocktail trends have followed with a return to classics, while new trends include agave mixed drinks and the introduction of low abv cocktails. 

The secret of success as a bartender is to adhere to the recipe, and don’t forget the bitters! Mixologists around the world have debated the chilled glass, ice usage and the merits of shaken or stirred for years but the classics are still going strong. You don’t need to put on a suit, or your Hawaiian print shirt, just grab a glass and embrace your budding bartending greatness.

Here are a few twists to elevate your drink.

THE MANHATTAN

A classic choice for whiskey lovers because of the perfectly balanced ratio of whiskey, vermouth and bitters. The drink’s origins remain a mystery. Was it really created at the Manhattan Club by Dr. Ian Marshall in the 1880s? We will never know. What we do know, is this drink is worth keeping around. The Manhattan experts will tell you that your choice of whiskey is important, with high end bourbon topping the list for its smooth finish.

Classic: MANHATTAN

• 2 oz. Sagamore Rye
• 1 oz. Martini & Rossi Rubino Vermouth
• 2 dashes Hella Bitters
• Ice
• Garnish: cherry

1. Fill a pint glass with ice
2. Add whiskey, vermouth, and bitters
3. Stir well
4. Strain into a chilled coup glass
5. Garnish with cherry

Twist: “Little Italy Cocktail”

Recipe: Audrey Saunders, Pegu club

• 2 oz. Michter’s Straight Rye
• ½ oz. Cynar
• ¾ oz. Martini & Rossi Rubino Vermouth
• Garnish: 2 luxardo cherries

1. Fill pint glass with ice
2. Add whiskey, vermouth, Cynar
3. Stir well
4. Strain into a chilled coup glass
5. Garnish with cherry

THE OLD FASHIONED

Dubbed ‘Old fashioned’ by purists who wanted the cocktail made “the old-fashioned way” after alterations were made to the drink in the 1800s. Whiskey lovers don’t need to look further, because this drink highlights the flavors of whiskey and bourbon above all other cocktails. The evolution and variety of bourbons, whiskeys and even Scotch in the glass means, this is not your grandfathers drink anymore. The deviation from excessive garnish has taken a back seat to a ‘less is more’ approach. The Old Fashioned’s recent resurgence as “the world’s most popular drink” is well deserved.

Classic: Old fashioned

• 1 sugar cube (or spoonful simple syrup)
• 2 dashes Hella Aromatic Bitters
• 2 oz. Wyoming Whiskey Bourbon
• Orange twist
• Optional: cherry

1. Muddle sugar cube and bitters with a barspoon of water at the bottom of chilled rocks glass
2. Add rye or bourbon
3. Stir until chilled (30 seconds)
4. Garnish with orange twist

Twist: “Oaxaca Old Fashioned”

Recipe: Phil Ward, bartender

The renaissance of agave spirits can be partially credited to Phil Ward and his ‘ahead of the curve’ love of tequila & mezcal. There are countless imitations of this recipe, but this was the original and to quote Phil Ward, “This shit works.”

• 1 ½ oz. El Tesoro Reposado
• ½ oz. Del Maguey Vida
• 2 dashes Hella Mexican Chocolate Bitters
• 1 barspoon Agave Nectar

1. Combine all the ingredients in an old-fashioned glass with one large ice cube
2. Still until chilled
3. Top with orange twist

THE MARTINI

Shaken or Stirred? Typically, gin martini drinkers prefer theirs stirred and Vodka martini drinkers like theirs shaken. This famous cocktail holds the prize for the ultimate glamour drink, with the standard martini called the 50/50, made up of equal parts gin and dry vermouth. A subtle shift happened as bar goers began to ask for the vodka martini, in part, thanks to James Bond. Whatever recipe you choose, please use your best James Bond voice when you say, “Shaken, not stirred.”

Classic: Martini

• Ice
• 2 ½ oz. Tanqueray or Beefeater Gin
• ½ oz. Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth
• Garnish: Green Olive

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, combine gin and vermouth
2. Stir (30 seconds)
3. Strain into martini glass
4. Garnish with olive or lemon twist

Twist: Espresso Martini

• 1 ½ oz. Vodka
• ⅔ oz. Kahlúa
• 1 oz. Espresso Coffee
• Pinch of Salt (optional)
• Garnish: 3 Coffee Beans

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, combine vodka, kahlúa, and coffee
2. Shake
3. Strain into martini glass
4. Garnish with 3 coffee beans (optional)

THE HOT TODDY

Aptly named “the warming cup of joy”, this is THE perfect winter cocktail. The story goes that Northern England and Scotland pubs would pour hot water into Whisky to warm up their patrons from the bitter cold. This led doctors to label this as “the cure for the common cold,” which created the sought-after medicinal drink across the pond.

Classic: Hot toddy

• 2 oz. Makers Mark
• 1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
• 1 tbsp. Honey
• Mug Hot Water (6-8oz.)
• Garnish optional: Star Anise Pod & Cinnamon Stick

1. Grab a mug and fill halfway with boiling water
2. Add lemon juice and honey, stir
3. Add bourbon
4. Top off with boiling water

Twist: “Hot Buttered Bourbon Ball”

Recipe by John Roscoe Swartz, cocktail aficionado

• ½ tbsp. Butter
• 1 heaping tbsp. Brown Sugar
• 1-2 dashes Chocololate Bitters
• 2 oz. Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon

1. Grab your favorite mug and fill mug halfway with boiling water
2. Add butter, sugar and bitters until the butter is melted.
3. Add 2 oz bourbon and top off with boiling water.

THE NEGRONI

Not a drink for the weak. The classic, imported from Italy, is one the strongest drinks, experiencing a renaissance while becoming a standard fixture on cocktail menus around the world. Count Camillo Negroni is credited with creating the drink when he requested gin be added to his American cocktail.

Classic: Negroni

• 1 ¼ oz. Plymouth
• 1 ¼ oz. Campari
• 1 ¼ oz. Noilly Prat
• Garnish: Orange Twist
• Chilled Club Soda (optional)

1. Stir all ingredients with ice in a double old-fashioned glass
2. Garnish with an orange twist

Twist: Boulevardier

A simple twist on the Negroni, crafted with whiskey instead of gin.

• 1 ½ oz. Knob Creek Rye
• ¾ oz. Noilly Prat
• ¾ oz. Campari
• Garnish: Twist of orange peel

1. Pour liquid ingredients into mixing glass
2. Fill with ice
3. Still until chilled (30 seconds)
4. Strain into cocktail glass

THE MARGARITA

Whether it originated in Mexico or California is unknown, but whoever took a chance on the fiery spirit to craft a cocktail should be rewarded. A growing appreciation for agave-based drinks has elevated Tequila’s image in the past few years with introduction of premium tequilas (Casamigos), alongside the rise of Mezcal, with its distinct smokey flavor. Although, Margaritas are a popular start to summer, this spicy margarita will warm you up on a cold winter day.

Classic: Margarita

• 1 ½ oz. El Tesoro Blanco
• 1 ½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 oz. Cointreau
• Garnish: Salt, Lime Wedge

1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila. Lime juice and Cointreau
2. Shake
3. Pour with ice
4. Garnish: Rub a lime around the rim of a chilled glass, salt the rim and finish with a wedge of lime (yum!)

Twist: “Jalapeno Margarita"

Crafted with Dano’s Pineapple & Jalapeno Fresh fruit infusion tequila

• 2 oz. Dano’s Jalapeno Infusion Tequila
• ¼ oz. Agave Syrup
• ¾ oz. Lime Juice
• ½ oz. Muddled Fruit or Grapefruit Juice (optional)
• Garnish: Jalapeno or Lime

1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, agave, lime juice and muddled fruit or juice
2. Shake
3. Pour with ice
4. Garnish: salt, jalapeno and wedge of lime (optional)

THE TOM COLLINS

Often overlooked for its simplicity, this classic cocktail was created in the mid 1800’s by John Collins, a barman in London. Returning GI’s brought this new recipe home with them and the drink became an American staple. This is a perfect drink for those looking for a ‘lower alcohol cocktail.” (Yes, his name is John but the drink is called, Tom)

Refreshing “Tom Collins” with a low abv take

• 1 oz. The Botanist
• ¾ oz. Lemon Juice
• ½ oz. Simple Syrup
• Cold Seltzer

1. Fill a tall glass with ice
2. Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup
3. Top with cold seltzer
4. Stir and enjoy

Cocktail books, websites, and well-respected bars in your city are a great place to explore new flavors and recipes. The Craft of Cocktail by Dale DeGroff is a perfect book to get you started. However you stumble upon your favorite cocktail recipe, do me a favor, and always share it with a friend.