|
 Keith Crocker |
|
The tourist season is finally nearing its end, and the weather is turning colder. This time of year is great to start thinking about making some warm drinks to heat up the soul and take the edge off the bitter wind making its way down the channel.
Many of these tasty concoctions are delicious yet laden with a nice boost of alcohol, which should be kept in mind. Just because it tastes great doesn't mean there is little or no alcohol in these drinks. They are made to be enjoyed and to warm the drinker, not just with the warmth of the liquid but with the alcohol as well.
Some of the traditional warm drinks are the hot toddy and the standard Irish cream and coffee or Irish coffee.
The hot toddy is usually made with whiskey, hot water, honey and a couple of lemon wedges squeezed into the coffee cup. A common variation of the toddy is to add clove or cinnamon to the drink.
As for the Irish cream and coffee, it is as simple as it sounds: a shot of Irish cream added to a cup of coffee. A few variations include adding a splash of peppermint schnapps or cream de menthe for a mint twist. Some like to give it a boost by adding some Kahlua or other coffee liquor.
One of my favorite variations is the so-called "Nutty Irishman," which is Irish cream, Frangelico hazelnut liquor, and coffee.
Another quick drink is the "Chip Shot," made from Tuaca, Irish cream and coffee. It tastes similar to a peanut butter cookie.
Another easy and traditional drink is black coffee and amaretto, although I prefer a double-shot of espresso and amaretto.
The hot brandy Alexander, based on a traditional cold drink, is composed of brandy or cognac, brown crème de cacao and steamed milk or steamed half and half. One might add some honey and nutmeg to flavor the drink up a bit.
An easy, yet untraditional drink is the "Snow Bunny," which is made with hot chocolate and a shot of triple sec, but Grand Mariner orange liquor might be a better choice than triple sec to add to the sweetness of the drink.
An interesting drink that I came across on the Internet is called the "Galliano Toddy" and is made with an ounce of Scotch, a ¾-ounce shot of Galliano, ½ ounce of grenadine and a squeezed lemon wedge, all added together and topped off with boiling water.
The "Hot Jamaican" is another interesting drink made with two ounces of Jamaican dark rum, three ounces of water, one ounce of fresh lime juice, ½ teaspoon of simple syrup, two whole cloves, one cinnamon stick and a lime wedge all put together and heated gently in a sauce pan until hot, then strained and served in a heat proof glass. For obvious reasons, this might be a drink best made at home as most bars don't have a kitchen available for preparing drinks.
Happy drinking and stay warm.
• Keith Crocker can be contacted at kpcrocker@gmail.com.
