#hot-toddies

#hot-toddies

I prefer frozen for blended drinks like daiquiris and margaritas; they add chill and texture without watering down the flavor. Fresh berries are better for drinks that are muddled.

One of my absolute favorite winter drinks is the après-ski classic verte chaud - also known as hot chocolate with a shot of emerald Green Chartreuse. This 300-year-old monastic liqueur is flavored with over 130 different botanicals, making it fabulously complex, with reviving notes of anise, mint, ginger, aromatic woods, pepper, tobacco, and lemon zest. It brings real lift to hot chocolate or dishes with earthy cocoa and creamy notes.

The Old Fashioned may be the most quintessential après-ski cocktail of them all. It's warm, satisfying, and perfectly suited for lingering conversations with friends gathered around a roaring fireplace. With each sip, the drink subtly evolves as the ice slowly melts-an ever-changing experience in a single glass. Holding one immediately sets you apart, in the best way, from the beer-and-wine crowd at an après party.

If you've experimented with flavorful ingredients to infuse into honey, you have sampled the punchy delight of hot honey. Honey made with spice - chilies, flakes, or even hot sauce - offers an infusion that straddles the line between heat and sweet. It's the kind of ingredient that can transform everyday recipes, both food and beverage. Once hot honey is stored in your kitchen, it couldn't be easier to spoon into drinks or drizzle on top of mugs for a transformative experience.

Hands up, who is dry Januarying? While it's not something I do explicitly, I do like to cut back a bit at the beginning of the year. The marathon that is Christmas socialising can be fun but relentless, and I imagine there are many others in the same boat. When it comes to wine, at least, the problem with cutting back is what to do with the rest of the bottle.