Author: Freelance Melt

Cozy up this winter with these warm cocktail recipes. 

Moonshine hot chocolate

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 3 tbs sugar
• 1 ½ tbs cocoa powder
• 1 oz Ole Smoky Mountain Java Tennessee Moonshine Cream

Instructions:

Mix the milk, sugar, and cocoa powder in a saucepan and warm. 

Allow to chill slightly, then top with the moonshine cream. 

Hot Buttered Rum 

Spiced butter ingredients:

• 6 tbs salted butter
• 3 tbs brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp allspice

Cocktail ingredients:

• 1 ½ tbs spiced butter
• 2 oz Ron Zacapa rum
• 6 oz boiling water
• Whipped cream topping (optional)

Instructions:

Flatten butter with a rolling pin. 

Add in brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Incorporate. 

Add 1 ½ tsp of spiced butter to each glass. 

Add rum and boiling water, then combine.

Top with whipped cream and enjoy! 

Boozy apple cider

Ingredients:

• Whole cloves
• Cinnamon sticks
• Whole allspice
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp apple butter 
• 2 oz Bulleit bourbon 
• 1 cup apple cider
• Apple slices

Instructions:

Add butter and spices to a pot and heat on low until butter is melted and spices become fragrant. About 5 minutes.

Add apple and two tablespoons of apple butter and continue to heat on low for another 5 minutes. 

Add cider and increase heat to medium high. Heat until it reaches desired temperature. 

Add bourbon and cinnamon sticks to a mug and top with warm cider.

Mulled wine 

Ingredients:

• Red wine 
• Oranges (at least one)
• Cinnamon sticks
• Ground cinnamon
• Whole cloves
• Star anise
• 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
• 1 cup of Bulleit bourbon

Instructions:

Cut your oranges into slices. Place one in a saucepan. Set any additional oranges aside for garnish later.

Combine with the rest of your ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat. 

Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for at least 15 minutes. Do not allow it to come to a boil.

Strain before drinking if you’re not a fan of “things” in your drinks. 

Serve warm in mugs and garnish with any remaining orange slices.

Hot toddy 

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup water
• 1 ½ ounces whiskey
• 2 to 3 teaspoons honey, to taste
• 2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
• 1 lemon round
• 1 cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish)

Instructions: 

In a teapot or saucepan, bring the water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug.

Add the whiskey, 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water. Taste, and add 1 teaspoon honey for more sweetness, and/or 1 teaspoon more lemon juice for more zing.

Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick (if using). Enjoy!

Red wine hot chocolate 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup chocolate chunks
• ¾ cup Bota Box Cabernet
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Cocoa powder (optional)
• Marshmallows (optional) 
• Whipped cream (optional) 

Instructions:

Heat milk in a pot on medium heat. Let simmer. 

Add chocolate chunks and stir until smooth. 

Remove from heat and add red wine and vanilla extract. Stir. 

Top with optional cocoa powder, marshmallows, and/or whipped cream.

Looking to change things up a bit this Thanksgiving? Try some of these fun and festive wine cocktail recipes. 

Holiday sangria

Ingredients:

• 3 cups pomegranate juice
• 5 (3") cinnamon sticks
• ½ teaspoon whole allspice
• 1 (4") piece peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced (about ¾ cup), divided
• 1 (750-ml) bottle red wine
• 1 Bartlett pear, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
• ½ cup pomegranate seeds
• ½ cup spiced rum
• 1 (750-ml) bottle pear or apple sparkling cider

Instructions: 

Bring pomegranate juice, cinnamon, allspice, and ⅓ of the ginger to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook 10 minutes, then remove from heat and let steep 10 minutes.

Strain mixture into a pitcher. Add the wine, pear, pomegranate seeds, rum, cinnamon sticks, and remaining ginger and stir to combine. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours. Top with cider. 

Festive mulled wine

Ingredients: 

• 1 quart pomegranate juice
• 1 750 ml bottle fruity red wine, such as Zinfandel
• 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 1/2 in long apiece
• 6 cardamom pods
• ¼ cup honey

Instructions: 

Mix together all ingredients in a slow cooker. Mix together then cover.

Cook for 1 hour on high or 2 hours on low. 

Keep warm on low heat for up to 4 hours.

Rosé sangria

Ingredients: 

• 1 750 ml bottle Fleurs de Prairie rosé
• ¼ cup brandy
• ¼ cup triple sec
• 1 cup orange juice
• ¼ cup simple syrup 
• Orange slice
• Lemon slice
• Lime slice
• Apple slices
• Thyme

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. 

Cover and refrigerate for 8-24 hours.

Strain garnishes and fruit, then add fresh when serving

Syllabub

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
• ½ cup white sugar
• ¼ cup white wine
• ⅛ cup lemon juice
• 1 tsp grated lemon zest 
• Ground nutmeg to taste
• 1 sprig each fresh rosemary and thyme for garnish
• Lemon slices 

Instructions: 

Whip cream and sugar until cream thickens. 

Slowly whip in the white wine, lemon juice, and lemon zest. 

Continue whipping until light and fluffy.

Cover and chill. 

Garnish with nutmeg, rosemary, thyme, and lemon slices. 

Eat with a spoon! 

Cheers to a wine-ful Thanksgiving! 

Looking for the perfect gifts for the wine lovers in your life? Follow our 2021 holiday gift guide for wine enthusiasts. 

A wine picnic bag

This one’s complete with everything a wine lover would need on the go, including a cheese board and knife, two insulated pouches for wine bottles, and a larger pocket for food. 

An insulated wine tumbler

The perfect gift for anyone on the go.

A bath wine holder

...and the perfect gift for anyone not on the go.

A champagne saber

With a little practice and the right bottle, anyone can saber champagne! Have a friend who loves party tricks? This is the gift for them. 

An outdoor wine table

The perfect addition to any wine lover’s backyard. 

A wine decanter

Last but not least, you can never go wrong with a good decanter. 

Ah yes, mulled wine season is finally upon us again! There’s nothing like those warm, comforting spices on a chilly day. But how do you make the best mulled wine? 

First, let’s start off with our go-to mulled wine recipe:

Ingredients:

1 bottle Robert Hall cabernet 

1 orange, sliced

8 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

2 star anise

Sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste

¼ cup brandy

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. 

Cook on medium-high until it reaches a simmer. Do not allow to boil.

Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 15 minutes.

Strain if desired.

Serve in a mug, using any leftover cloves, cinnamon sticks, anise, or oranges for garnish.

Next, some tips for making the best mulled wine: 

Choose the right wine. 

You want something right in the middle as far as price and quality. A bad wine will be noticeable, but a nice expensive bottle simply won’t. So go for an everyday house wine that you enjoy but that won’t break the bank. 

Choose the right spices and herbs. 

Play around with different combinations and have fun with it, but don’t overthink it! Mulled wine is good with something as simple as some cinnamon sticks and cloves, but can be equally as delicious with some fun herbs like rosemary or time and a concoction of spices. All it takes is some trial and error, and the best part is that you get to drink your trials and errors!

Experiment with other additions. 

Tea. Fruit. Honey. Sugar. Syrups. Liquor. These are all fantastic additions to mulled wine; it’s all about preference and what you have on hand. 

Never let it boil. 

You want your mulled wine to be nice and warm, but never TOO hot. And if it boils, you’ll boil the alcohol out. Keep the temperature low so it slowly warms up and mixes with all of your spices. 

Follow these tips and have fun, and you’re sure to end up with a phenomenal mulled wine. And if you’re looking for more fun fall cocktail recipes, check out our favorites here. 

Happy mulling!