10 Hot Alcoholic Drinks to Keep You Warm

Here’s a warm alcoholic drink that’s ideal for sipping by the fire on a chilly evening: Hot Buttered Rum! This historic drink has been around since the 1650's, and it's still popular today. Cozy-spiced with cinnamon and allspice, it's spirit-forward with boozy dark rum and a touch of butter to make it lightly creamy. It's enough to warm your toes…and your soul.

Ingredients: Salted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, dark rum, boiling water

What's a better hot alcoholic drink than a great Mulled Wine? Make up a big pot, and it fills your kitchen with an intoxicating aroma of toasted allspice and cinnamon. This recipe is just sweet enough, balancing the bold fruity wine with mulling spices, citrus, and oak and vanilla notes on the finish.

Ingredients: Allspice, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, dry red wine, water, maple syrup, brandy, orange

Want a cozy hot alcoholic drink that warms you from the inside out? There’s nothing better at taking the chill off than a homemade Spiked Hot Chocolate! This mug of liquid cocoa is rich and creamy, with an intense depth in chocolate flavor. A hint of aged rum or bourbon, and it gives it a warming complexity with notes of vanilla and oak. Or, try minty Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate or more Adult Hot Chocolate Recipes.

Ingredients: Cocoa powder, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, rum, bourbon or peppermint schnapps

Here’s a recipe for gray days and chilly evenings by the fire: spiked hot apple cider! Not only will it lift your spirits, it makes your kitchen smell like a candle shop. Rum complements the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise perfectly.

Ingredients: Whole cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, apple cider, rum

Here's a warm alcoholic drink that's a notch above the rest: Amaretto Coffee! It’s one of those flavor combinations that’s years beyond the sum of its parts. The amaretto brings a nuttiness and spice to the coffee that’s hard to quantify in words. Topped with frothy whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, it’s truly to die for.

Ingredients: Amaretto, coffee, whipped cream

Here's another great hot alcoholic drink: the Hot Toddy! In the early 19th century it was thought to be a cure for colds, and it's no wonder: this drink definitely puts a warmth in your chest. Use this whiskey drink for sipping around the fire in the evening; it's less of a winter cocktail for entertaining.

Also try: Brandy Hot Toddy, Rum Hot Toddy, Bourbon Hot Toddy or Apple Cider Hot Toddy

Ingredients: Whiskey, lemon, honey, hot water or tea

Here’s a warm and cozy mug you won’t be able to stop sipping: the Peppermint Patty! This hot chocolate is spiked with not one but two liqueurs, adding both mint and chocolate flavors to the rich body of this drink. It’s stellar with homemade hot chocolate, but you can also make it with purchased hot cocoa mix. The amount of cozy flavor here is unreal. 

Ingredients: Hot chocolate, peppermint schnapps, Creme de Cacao

Another classic hot alcoholic drink? Irish coffee! There’s nothing more soul warming than that classic combination of bitter coffee, buttery Irish whisky and frothy whipped cream. There are infinite variations on the spiked coffee theme, too.

Ingredients: Irish whiskey, coffee, whipped cream

Love Baileys? Then here’s a warming cocktail to put on your to-drink list: Baileys Hot Chocolate! It’s got the best deep chocolaty flavor, accentuated by the chocolate and vanilla notes with the fruity finish of Irish whiskey. Topped with fluffy whipped cream, it’s a revelation! Serve this sweet warm alcoholic drink anytime you need a wintery pick me up: or it’s great for the holidays or a snow day.

Ingredients: Cocoa powder, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, Baileys

Last up in our hot alcoholic drinks: Spanish coffee! It’s actually an American spin on the Spanish concept of carajillo: spiked coffee. It’s got a caramelized sugar rim and is spiked with Kahlua, rum, and orange liqueur…and topped with hand-whipped fluffy whipped cream! The burnt caramel, citrus, bitter coffee and sweet cream all combine into a literal symphony of flavor. 

Ingredients: Coffee, Kahlua, Triple Sec, aged rum, sugar, lemon, whipped cream