These winter cocktails are perfect for chilly weather! From hot drinks to seasonal spins on classics, they’ll warm you from the inside out.

Mulled Wine recipe

Chilly outside? Great, because that’s the only excuse you need to make these Winter Cocktails! ‘Tis the season for warm mugs, cozy spices, and robust liquors like bourbon and rum. Try winter classics like mulled wine and spiked hot chocolate, or drinks that warm you from the inside out like a Maple Old Fashioned. Flavors like cranberry, apple, pear, coffee, and chocolate make this a deliciously satisfying list of wintery hits. Ready to get started?

Want specific types of liquor? Go to Winter Gin Cocktails or Winter Vodka Cocktails.

And now…the top winter cocktails to try!

More seasonal inspiration

Need inspiration for meals, desserts, and more? Here are some of our top recipes for wintery food and drink:

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Mulled wine

Top Winter Cocktails: Mulled Wine & More!


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 0 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 drinks 1x

Description

This mulled wine recipe is easy and classic, starring a bold red, mulling spices, brandy and orange. The ideal cozy winter cocktail for a crowd!


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. Toast the spices: Add the spices to the bottom of a pot (or to a skillet for Slow Cooker or Instant Pot). Toast over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
  2. Stovetop cooking instructions: 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).
  3. Slow Cooker & Instant Pot instructions: Place the wine, water and maple syrup in the slow cooker or Instant Pot (pressure cooker) with the toasted spices. Cook on low for 2 hours or Normal using the Instant Pot “Slow Cooker” setting.
  4. Add brandy and orange juice: When ready to serve, stir in the brandy or Cognac and the juice from 1 orange. Garnish with orange slices and if desired, rosemary sprigs.

Notes

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

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Winter cocktails

More cocktail recipes

There are so many drinks to try outside of these winter cocktails! Here are 300+ cocktail recipes for every occasion:

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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