Hot cocktails have long been a special gift in winter with a variety of genres and ways of preparation. Each different way of drinking hot cocktails shows the distinct cultural features of each country and region around the world. And above all, these cocktails not only make the drinker feel warm, but also a unique enjoyment in the subzero weather.
Hot buttered rum cocktail
American sailors brought rum from the Caribbean islands to the Americas and gave it a special life. With the addition of butter, sugar and heating, rum became more than just a fragrant liquor, but a source of warm energy. In some versions, this cocktail was also flavored with cloves, peppercorns, marshmallows, nutmeg or even mulled apple cider.
Sbiten
Sbiten has been a popular drink among all social classes in Russia since the 12th century. “Sbiten” in Russian means “beaten”, and that is also the way to make this cocktail.
Made with honey as the main ingredient and some other flavors, sbiten brings a characteristic strong aroma. However, today, bartenders have added alcohol to this drink instead of using honey yeast like the old versions. The added alcohol can be red wine, vodka or any other strong Russian alcohol. The alcohol is mixed with honey and then boiled with ginger, star anise, cinnamon, cardamom and garnished with mint leaves or cinnamon.
In Russia, sbiten is often served in a large kettle called a samovar and can be served cold with ice in the summer.
Canelazo
Hot canelazo is a popular drink in the cold mountainous regions and South American countries such as Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Argentina. Canelazo can be understood as a mixture of sugarcane alcohol, star anise, cane sugar, boiled cinnamon water and sometimes fruit juice.
Canelazo is traditionally drunk on holidays like Christmas, but is now sold on street carts and has become a national drink in Ecuador.
Hot wine
No one knows for sure where mulled wine actually originated, but it’s now a wintertime favorite in Europe (and around the world). It’s a combination of red wine, citrus juice, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and a dash of rum.
Mulled wine has many different names in different countries such as: Vin Chaud in France, glühwein in Germany, sıcak şarap in Turkey, glogg in Norway,... Basically all variations have the same recipe and have some added flavors such as black pepper, honey.
Hot Toddy
Although there are various theories, the Scots believe that this popular drink is named after a spring in Edinburgh called Tod’s Well. Made from a mixture of tea, water, honey, spices and whisky, hot toddy has long been considered a remedy for the common cold or flu. The pleasant aroma of tea combined with the warm taste of whisky makes for a pleasant drink, soothing all the senses in the cold winter.
Hot sake
It’s hard to leave out Japanese sake from a list of winter drinks. Sake is a traditional Japanese rice wine, brewed using the same method since the 3rd century that gives it its clean, rustic taste.
The Japanese believe that when served hot, the flavor is smoother and much healthier. The standard temperature for serving sake is slightly hotter than human body temperature and it gives off a pleasant aroma.
