Warm Up this Fall with these wam whisk(e)y cocktails from The Whisky Guy!

Warm Up this Fall with these warm whisk(e)y cocktails from The Whisky Guy!

It doesn’t take chestnuts roasting on an open fire to realize the temps are dropping and it’s becoming that time of year when we look for more indoor activities.  Shrug off the screen tan blues with these 5 easy cocktails you can make at home!

Hot Toddy

Not just for sick days, this warm up is great any evening as a warm-up!

  • 1.5 oz Whisk(e)y (I like using a wheated Bourbon like Maker’s Mark, Weller or even Rebel Yell)
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey
  • Juice from 1/4 Lemon
  • Hot Water (just off a boil)
  • 1 Tea Bag (I like using Twinings Early Gray)

Hot Toddy Recipe

  1. In a mug, pour the hot water over the tea bag and let steep for 2 minutes
  2. Put honey in the bottom of a second mug
  3. Add the lemon juice and whisk(e)y to the honey
  4. When the tea is done steeping, remove the tea bag and add the hot tea to the whisk(e)y/honey/lemon
  5. Enjoy!

Irish Coffee

No list of hot whisk(e)y drinks would be complete without it, and super easy to make!

  • 1 teaspoon Brown Sugar (tho a sugar cube would do the trick)
  • 1.5 oz Irish Whiskey (I like using a bigger flavored option, like Redbreast or Bushmills Black Bush)
  • Hot Coffee
  • 1 oz Cream (or half-and-half, or whole milk if you must)

Irish Coffee Recipe

  1. Start with the sugar at the bottom of a mug, then pour over the whisk(e)y
  2. Fill with coffee
  3. Top with cream
  4. Enjoy!

For a fun twist, use Baileys, Kahlua, or another liqueur in place of the cream!  Or, turn it into a Kentucky Coffee by using Bourbon in place of the Irish Whiskey and a honey-flavored whiskey/liqueur (like Jack Daniel’s Honey or Wild Turkey American Honey) in place of the sugar.

Whisky Skin

Made famous by the person many call the Godfather of Cocktails, Jerry Thomas, this quick one has only 3 ingredients.

  • 2 oz Scotch Whisky (I like using big flavor here too; Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Johnnie Walker Black Label, etc)
  • Lemon Peel
  • Hot Water

Whisky Skin Recipe

  1. Start with the whisky in a mug
  2. Add about 4-6 oz of hot water (to taste)
  3. Rub the lemon peel on the rim of the mug and drop in
  4. Enjoy!

Whisk(e)y Eggnog

One at a time or by the bucketful, this classic is always a crowd pleaser!

  • 2 oz Bourbon (I like using something with some backbone like Wild Turkey 101)
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • 1 Egg Yolk
  • 5 oz Milk
  • Nutmeg

Whiskey Eggnog Recipe

  1. In a cocktail shaker, start by dissolving the sugar into the whisk(e)y
  2. Add the egg yolk and milk, and lots of ice
  3. Shake for at least 10 seconds
  4. Pour into a tall glass and top with nutmeg
  5. Enjoy!

Bourbon Cider Punch

Having some friends over and need to make a large batch of something?  Here’s one you can start early and let steep!  (Originally found in Fox News Magazine)

  • 1 Gallon Apple Cider
  • 3 Cups Whisk(e)y (I like a Straight Rye like Sazerac, Knob Creek Rye, or Old Overholt)
  • Mulling Spices
  • Cinnamon Sticks
  • Apple Slices

Bourbon Cider Punch Recipe

  1. Add whisk(e)y, cider and mulling spices to a large pot
  2. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring regularly
  3. Lower heat to low until ready to serve
  4. Serve with cinnamon sticks and/or apple slices
  5. Enjoy!

Conclusion

Making warm fall cocktails at home can be fun, and doesn’t need to be difficult.  Most of the time you’ll even get the bonus of being able to fill your home with fun aromas, too.  Just remember – there’s no right or wrong whisk(e)y, no right or wrong way to drink whisk(e)y, there’s only the whisk(e)y that you like. And that’s all that matters!