As some of the coldest and longest nights of the year set in, we’re looking for any way to warm up … and keep our spirits up. Behold: the winter cocktail. We chatted with some of the city’s best bar gurus—at Crave, McCormick & Schmick’s and Pittsburgh Blue—and snagged their favorite recipes for cool weather drinks, all creamy, decadent and packed with flavor (vanilla and chocolate and hazelnut, oh my!). So have your friends and family over for a seasonal soiree or just snuggle up for a cool winter’s night—whatever the occasion, these tasty cocktails are guaranteed to warm you up from the inside.
Espresso Shot
1½ oz. Borghetti espresso liqueur
1 oz. Stoli vanilla vodka
½ oz. simple syrup
Splash of stout
Crushed peanuts (optional)
Combine all the ingredients except the stout and peanuts. Shake ingredients, then strain. Finally, top with the stout. Serve up in a martini glass, with an optional crushed peanut rim.
*Courtesy of Darcie Marsh, director of beverages at Crave
Release the Kraken
1½ oz. Kraken rum
½ oz. Herring cherry liqueur
¼ oz. simple syrup
Juice from 1 lemon wedge
1 dash of chocolate bitters
Cherries
Combine all the liquid ingredients over ice. Shake, and strain onto fresh ice. Serve in a rocks glass and garnish with a cherry.
*Courtesy of Darcie Marsh
Chocolate Martini
2 oz. Sobieski vanilla vodka
1 oz. Baileys Irish cream liqueur
1 oz. Godiva chocolate liqueur
1 oz. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
Chocolate sauce
Combine all the liquid ingredients. Shake, and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Tip from Chris: A perfect drink for entertaining, this looks really cool if you swirl the martini glass with chocolate sauce before you fill it.
*Courtesy of Chris Christopherson, assistant general manager at Pittsburgh Blue
Iron Butterfly
2 oz. Sobieski vanilla vodka
1 oz. Kahlua coffee liqueur
1 oz. Baileys Irish cream liqueur
Filberts or Hazelnuts
For a delicious twist on the classic white Russian, combine all liquid ingredients. Serve in a lowball glass over ice. Garnished with filberts or hazelnuts.
*Courtesy of Chris Christopherson
Night Time Hot Angel
1–1 ½ oz. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur or Amaretto di Saronno liqueur
2 cups whole milk
White chocolate shavings
Preheat a coffee mug with hot water and then discard hot water. Warm the whole milk—preferably on an espresso machine frother but a stove or microwave will work—and set aside. Add the Frangelico or Amaretto di Saronno to the mug, and then top with the hot milk. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings. Tip from Mike: Can be a great nighttime sleep aid.
*Courtesy of Mike Herstine, general manager at McCormick & Schmick’s
Spanish Coffee
1 orange wedge
Sugar (on a small plate)
¼ oz. grand marnier or triple sec orange liqueur
½ oz. Bacardi 151 rum
½ oz. Kahlua coffee liqueur
Freshly brewed hot coffee
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Fresh whipped cream
Supplies: Food Torch
Preheat a glass coffee mug or footed glass with hot water and then discard water. Flavor the rim of the mug by rubbing and orange wedge around the top. Dip the rim in sugar to coat. Place the Grand Marnier or triple sec and the Barcardi 151 rum in the mug. Carefully light contents on fire. Tilt the mug to the side and continually turn it slowly until the sugar crystals caramelize around the rim.
While the flame is still burning, add Kahlua. Then, fill mug to within ½-inch of the top with coffee. Shake cinnamon and nutmeg over the mug (it should still be burning slightly and will singe the spices as they fall into the glass). Douse the flame and top the drink with fresh whipped cream.
* This is a complicated show drink. If preparing for others, test your technique ahead of time. Mix at your own risk.
*Courtesy of Mike Herstine
Caramel Appletini
2 oz. Sobieski Karamel vodka
1 oz. apple schnapps
Maraschino cherry
Combine all liquid ingredients together in shaker with ice. Shake, strain and serve in a martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
*Courtesy of Chris Christopherson
Irish Coffee
1 sugar cube (or 1 tsp. sugar)
1 ¼ oz. Jameson Irish whisky
Freshly brewed hot coffee
Fresh whipped cream
Using a glass coffee mug or footed rocks glass, preheat the mug with hot water, and then discard water. Pour Jameson whisky in glass, add sugar and mix. Add hot coffee to within ½-inch of the top of the mug. Float fresh whipped cream on top.
*Courtesy of Mike Herstine
