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Cocktails to warm your insides when it's cold outside

When the weather turns cool outside, warm up inside with these seasonal cocktails. I asked top cocktail experts for their favorite fall/winter sips to ring in the season. Cheers! Cocktail: Golden DerbyChosen by: Leslie SbroccoThis is my take on the classic Brown Derby. Being a Bourbon fan and someone who craves drinks that are more tart than sweet, this drink is complex yet simple to make. 2 oz. B
Mexico City cocktail
Mexico City cocktailToday

When the weather turns cool outside, warm up inside with these seasonal cocktails. I asked top cocktail experts for their favorite fall/winter sips to ring in the season. Cheers!

Cocktail: Golden Derby

Chosen by: Leslie Sbrocco

This is my take on the classic Brown Derby. Being a Bourbon fan and someone who craves drinks that are more tart than sweet, this drink is complex yet simple to make.

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail or martini glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

Bourbon recommendations:

Cocktail: Mexico City

Chosen by: Eric Rubin, leading tequila educator/founder of Tres Agaves Restaurants

  • 2 oz. Añejo tequila
  • 1 oz. cherry liqueur
  • 1 oz. sweet vermouth
  • 3 French maraschino cherries for garnish

Cocktail: Spiced apple martini

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Skewer the cherries on a toothpick or sword to garnish.

Chosen by: Will Pitman, Morrell Wine Bar manager
  • 2 oz. Pear-flavored Vodka*
  • 1 oz. Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur
  • 1 splash Amaretto Di Saronno
  • 2 oz. freshly-made spiced apple juice (use juiced fresh apples with orange peel, cinnamon, clove and allspice)

Vodka recommendations:

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Float a pinch of cinnamon on top.

Cocktail: Irish coffee

Chosen by: Doug Frost, master of wine and master sommelier, co-founder of BAR

  • 1 ½ oz. Irish whiskey*
  • 1 oz. simple syrup (equal parts dissolved sugar and water)
  • 4 oz. coffee


Whiskey recommendations:

Combine whiskey, coffee and syrup in an Irish coffee glass or coffee mug. Top with lightly whipped unsweetened cream (use hand-whipped cream if possible as the cream-in-a-can leaves an oil slick on the top of your drink).

Cocktail: Hot Buttered Egg Nog

Chosen by: Kathy Casey, celebrity chef and mixologist, founder The Liquid Kitchen

For a demo on how to make the holiday pleaser, check out this episode of Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen.

For one cup:

  • 3 – 4 Tbsp. Buttered Eggnog Mix (recipe follows)
  • 1 – 1 1/2 oz. spiced rum
  • 4 – 5 oz. boiling water

For buttered eggnog mix:

Makes about 7 cups (about 30 - 36 servings)

  • 1/2 pound salted butter (2 sticks), softened
  • 1 Tbsp. finely minced orange zest
  • 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 pint very high-quality vanilla ice cream
  • 1 cup high-quality eggnog
  • 1 Tbsp. real vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon rum extract

Be sure butter is softened. With an electric mixer; cream butter, orange zest and sugars together in a mixing bowl until totally smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. Store refrigerated for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 1 month.

What winter cocktails are your favorites? Tell us in the comments below.

Leslie Sbrocco is the author of "The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide" and founder of ThirstyGirl.com.