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Try these classic hot alcoholic drinks for winter, like hot buttered rum, mulled wine, and spiked hot chocolate! These warming cocktails are perfect for cozy nights and entertaining.

Hot alcoholic drinks, hot cocktails
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When the air starts to get a certain chill, it’s cozy drink time! I’ve found there’s nothing more warming than cozying up with a mug of something, especially if it’s spiked. In fact, a warm mug of booze is a strategy that’s been used for centuries to stay toasty all winter long.

As a cocktail expert, here are my favorite hot alcoholic drinks and cocktails to take the chill off! There are party classics like buttered rum, mulled wine and spiked cider, or simple drinks like a drizzle peppermint schnapps into hot chocolate.

My Top Hot Alcoholic Drinks For the Season

Serving Hot Cocktails for a Crowd

For parties, I’ve found that batched hot drinks work well. Mulled wine, spiked cider, and hot buttered rum can be made in large quantities and kept warm in a slow cooker. You can even set up a drink station with mugs, garnishes, and ladles so guests can serve themselves.

Non-Alcoholic Hot Drinks

For variety, I like serving both offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Mulled cider, hot chocolate, and various coffee drinks work for anyone who wants non-alcoholic beverages. Here are a few of my favorite ideas:

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Hot Alcoholic Drinks: Mulled Wine & More!

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5 from 2 reviews

Try these classic hot alcoholic drinks for winter, like hot buttered rum, mulled wine, and spiked hot chocolate! These warming cocktails are perfect for cozy nights and entertaining.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 0 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 drinks 1x
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 10 allspice berries
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 3 star anise pods
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 750 ml bottle dry red wine*
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
  • ¼ cup brandy or Cognac
  • 1 small orange, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Add the spices to the bottom of a pot. Toast over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
  2. Turn the heat to low. Add the water, then pour in the wine and maple syrup and stir. Warm for 30 minutes on low heat, just barely bubbling. Do not let the wine come to a full simmer (or the liquid will reduce too much).

Notes

*Double the recipe for a party: for the Slow Cooker and Instant Pot it’s nice to have the doubled quantities.

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi there! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of two cookbooks, busy parents, and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share simple, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking. We now offer thousands of original recipes, cooking tips, and meal planning ideas—all written and photographed by the two of us (and tested on our kids!).

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5 Comments

  1. Steven L Hicks says:

    heres a quick and easy hot drink for us cocoa lovers Two scoops of swiss miss, 1 shot glass of cream de cocoa, 16 ozs of hot water stir enjoy

  2. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!

    1. Elaine Ross says:

      Hi!
      Both Recipes for Mulled Ciders look delicious. Question about recipe with wine and brandy – Does the alcohol cook away during the 30 minutes on low? Knowing my guests, I certainly wouldn’t want it to. :-)
      Thanks, Elaine

      1. Alex Overhiser says:

        Hi! No, most of the alcohol will remain.

      2. Codi Shively says:

        Something different