For wintertime, cocktail cravings lean toward boozy hot drinks and cocktails that feel fortifying and comforting. My general rule for winter cocktails is: less fruit, more chocolate and coffee!
But it’s not a hard and fast rule, and you’ll find some cocktails in this collection that blur the lines. The most important thing about winter cocktails is that they seem cozy and comforting.
And if none of these are quite what you were after, you can always take a look at some alcoholic hot chocolate cocktails.
The Best Winter Cocktails to Sip by the Fire
The Toasted Almond Cocktail is a classic drink recipe featuring two liqueurs and cream. It's rich and sweet - enough to be a dessert replacement. It's creamy with mocha almond cherry notes.
You can't get through winter without an Irish Coffee or two. Can you? Why would you even try? Irish Coffee is one of the simplest and oldest recipes for a coffee drink.
It blends coffee with Irish whiskey and either sugar or Irish cream. It's a wonderfully bittersweet hot cocktail that's perfect for after dinner or as a nightcap (but you might want to make it with decaf coffee).
The classic Hot Toddy features whiskey blended with clove, nutmeg and lemon juice and served with a cinnamon stick. It will warm you all the way to your toes.
It's a great way to turn unexceptional whiskey into something delicious. But it's even better with a great bourbon whiskey.
The French Toast is a tasty little shot that blends Baileys with cinnamon and butterscotch schnapps. It feels like comfort food.
This delicious drink blends the the flavors of coffee, almond, orange and caramel.
The Brandy Alexander is an old classic featuring brandy, dark creme de cacao and cream, garnished with nutmeg. It's a dessert drink: chocolatey, sweet, creamy and smooth. Because the alcohol taste is so light, you might think of it as a spiked milkshake. But it's more subtle and grown-up than that.
The Avalanche Cocktail takes the vodka out of a White Russian and replaces it with Crown Royal.
Boozy S’mores Hot Cocoa is just right to take the chill off a cold winter evening. It blends S'mores flavored vodka with hot chocolate for a toasty chocolate flavor with hints of honey and cinnamon.
This one combines vodka with classic winter flavor of cranberry juice, served warm. You have to give this one a try!
The White Russian is a delicious, creamy treat of a drink. It tastes like a chocolate mocha with cream, so what's not to like?
This drink features Baileys, Frangelico and coffee or espresso. It's a creamy, nutty, sweet cocktail.
The Marshmallow Shooter cocktail actually tastes like a marshmallow. It's sweet and vanilla with a creamy texture. You may have to try to control yourself - you'll want another one, and another one...
A drink that looks like chocolate milk, but it's a blend of gin, cognac, chocolate liqueur, and heavy cream.
This cocktail blends comforting tea with whiskey and Irish cream, and it's served hot.
This smooth, rich cocktail is so simple, with a combination of vodka, amaretto, and cream.
Featuring scotch and Drambuie with warm milk. This one's a little bit sweet, a lot creamy and far from weak.
This delicious drink is a lot like a Mulled Wine that you make quickly in the microwave instead of in a pot on the stove. It is definitely a shortcut, and the result is tasty.
Have a Kahlua Hot Chocolate when you're trying to get warm. It's so simple and so tasty. The only way to complicate it is with whipped cream and sprinkles. This delicious recipe blends hot chocolate and Kahlua together for a tasty treat.
It's perfect for cool evenings or anytime you're in the mood for hot chocolate. And we've got plenty more Kahlua drinks where that one came from!
The Rum Sangaree blends port with rum and Cointreau. It's served cold, but the effect is warming.
This is a hot coffee drink featuring amaretto and dark creme de cacao. The name says it all.
This warm drink adds delicious butterscotch schnapps to hot coffee. What more could you want?
Mulled wine is a favorite winter punch that's served warm in a mug. Wine, cognac and various spices all simmered together. It is a delicious, comforting drink that transforms any leftover or cheap wine into something wonderful, warm and soothing.
This tasty cocktail wakes you up with hot coffee with Kahlua, brandy and dark creme de cacao. It's like a mocha with very subtle fruity notes and a kick.
The Spicy Martini is just what it sounds like: gin, vermouth and the hot sauce of your choice. You may be worried about drinking hot sauce straight up - and it is pretty intense - but it's amazing.
Featuring cognac, which is lit on fire. Then you put the fire out by pouring hot coffee over it. With cinnamon, lemon and sugar.
Another classic, with a pat of butter floated atop hot dark rum. This recipe will make a batch of hot buttered rum in separate glasses. That way they are all ready to go when you have guests arrive.
