Well, it happened. Snow fell by the centimeter in the Seattle area and, predictably, everyone freaked out. If you want my advice, which I assume you always do, the first thing you should do is go build a snowman or have a snowball fight with the neighborhood kids. Enjoy the snow while it lasts. After you’ve had your fun and pummeled the neighbor’s twelve year old with a snowball attack that could take down an adult grizzly bear, you should treat yourself to a nice warm drink… here are three great suggestions for a cold winter’s night.

Blood Orange Hot Toddy

10 oz Blood Orange Rachel’s Ginger Beer

2oz Bourbon

Star anise and clove garnish

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Heat the ginger beer in a tea kettle pour into a heatproof mug, add whiskey and garnishes to taste. It’s delicious but, full disclosure, I’ve yet to make to make this one at home (hence the bad photo at the RGB bar in Pike Place).

The Bourbon Furnace

5oz hot apple cider

1.5oz Bourbon

0.5oz Allspice Dram

Apple slice (garnish)

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Combine ingredients in a heatproof mug, sip, enjoy, relax. Be warm. See my Cocktail Christmas write up on this delicious drink here.

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Never Dry Hot Toddy

4oz Hot Water

2oz Goslings Black Seal Rum

0.5oz Allspice Dram

0.5oz Simple Syrup

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Lemon wheel studded with cloves

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There's no photo of this drink because The Never Dry Hot Toddy is not photogenic, in fact it comes out looking like dark black tea. But it is good. Like, really good.

It’s by far the best iteration of a hot toddy that I have ever even heard of. That’s right, it’s the real deal. I’m proud enough of this drink to put my name on it and send it out in batches to my friends. It’s not only a great drink, it’s a miracle cure. It will get rid of your flu or cold. It might even have other magic properties to it that haven’t been discovered yet. Get on that.

Anyway, I hope you try these three great winter drinks and enjoy them on a cold day like today…preferably by the fire. Even if that fire is an app on your iPhone.

Cheers!