3 Warm Drinks to Try When the Weather Gets Cold

One of the best things about the chillier months of the year is the opportunity to enjoy wonderfully warming drinks. It presents a vision of cozying up to a roaring fire while sipping as snowflakes fall outside.

These particularly tempting beverages are practically guaranteed to be a delicious way to warm up when the weather gets cold. Head to your nearest liquor store in Savannah or any other city you happen to live in, pick up the ingredients, and enjoy! 

Hot Toddy with a Twist

Who doesn’t love a hot toddy? The toddy, as we know today, began in the early 17th-century, and by the end of the 18th-century, it was officially recorded as “taddy” and defined as a drink “made of alcoholic liquor with spices, sugar and hot water.”

Since then, there have been many different recipes created for making them, and this one has a special twist, Earl Grey tea. 

Ingredients:

• 1 Earl Grey tea bag
• 1 oz whiskey (Talisker is one of our favorites as it provides a slightly smoky flavor, but you can use any brand, like Jameson or Dewars)
• 1 tbsp honey (ideally raw and organic)
• 8 oz filtered water
• 1 slice of lemon

Heat the water, bringing it just to a boil. Place the tea bag into a mug and pour the boiling water over the bag, allowing it to steep for about five minutes. Remove the tea bag; add honey and whiskey. Squeeze the lemon slice into the mug and then use it as a garnish. 

Glühwein 

If you’ve ever been to a German Christmas market, you’ve probably tried Glühwein, or at least saw it available. It’s a type of mulled wine that roughly translates to “glow-wine,” after the hot irons once used for mulling. The following is an especially tasty version, with savory and sharp flavors, which is less sweet than many other recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 750 ml bottle of a full-bodied red wine like malbec or syrah
• The juice of one orange
• ½ lemon, sliced
• 3 cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cardamom pods
• 1 or 2 star anise

Place the orange juice and lemon slice into a pan with all the other ingredients. Bring to a gentle boil on the stove, and continue to keep it at a low boil for one to two hours before serving.

Swedish Glögg 

Glögg is a traditional Scandinavian drink during the wintertime, particularly over the Christmas holidays. In Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, hot wine has been commonly consumed since the 16th century. The original form, a spiced liquor, was frequently enjoyed by postmen and messengers and postmen who travelled on skis or horseback in frigid weather. It’s an especially tasty alternative to your standard red mulled wine, wonderful to serve at a holiday party or anytime when it’s cold out.

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles dry red wine like Cabernet
• ½ bottle of port wine
• 1 cup vodka
• 3 dried figs, sliced
• 4 oz raisins
• The juice and peel of two oranges
• 8 oz brown sugar 
• 2 or 3 star anise
• Dash black pepper
• 5 cloves
• 7 cardamom pods
• 3 cinnamon sticks

Place all the ingredients in a large pot. Bring the liquid to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow it to soak for two hours. Strain when ready; reheat and serve.