From spiced rum to aged tequila, here are the season’s must-have spirits – and a few ideas on how to serve them, too.
Some folks dread winter but, honestly, you just have to embrace it (I say this from cold, cold Melbourne). It gives you the chance to bust out that winter wardrobe, get cosy in front of a pub fire and, best of all, switch up the drinks on your bar cart. You just have to get into the spirit of the season, y’know?
Drinks-wise, we reckon winter is a good time to put those zesty gins and summery fruit liqueurs on the shelf, and reach for something a little richer, more complex and cold weather-appropriate. We’re talking spiced rums, aged tequilas, coffee liqueurs, Japanese whisky and everything in between. Sound like your sort of thing? Let’s curate that cart.
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1. Spiced rum: Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold
Nothing says winter like warm spices and, brother, Captain Morgan has a boatload. This classic spiced rum is headlined by vanilla, of course, but the real winter faves are flavours like cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar – plus some subtle dried fruit and oak notes to round it all out.
While you can definitely serve a spiced rum like Captain Morgan over ice (with a little squeeze of lime, ideally), the real winter vibes are found when you get mixing. Classic cocktails like the Dark ‘n’ Stormy blend spiced rum with the gentle warmth of ginger beer and some zesty lime but, if you’re looking to really harness the Captain’s cosy cool-season style, we reckon it has to be a Hot Buttered Rum. The cocktail blends spiced rum, butter, orange, apricot brandy and warm spices like cloves, all heated up and served with a grating of nutmeg. Now that’s a winter drink done right, right?
2. Bourbon: Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
With its soft, vanilla-forward flavour profile, Maker’s Mark is one of the most versatile and approachable bourbon whiskies you’ll find. It always goes well in simple, summery serves like the Whisky Highball but, when the cold days draw in, that’s when we think Maker’s Mark really shines.
Serving it neat (that is, straight without ice) is a great way to appreciate the warmth of the spirit and its vanilla biscuit flavours, while cocktails like the Boulevardier (that’s a Negroni with whisky instead of gin) and Whisky Sour are perfect, too, especially with lemons in-season come winter. For a winter-only serve, though, there’s no way to beat the Hot Toddy – a blend of lemon juice, honey, bourbon and boiling water that should thoroughly nail the cosy-night-in brief.
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3. Whisky: Nikka Yoichi Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Nikka whiskies are some of Japan’s most-celebrated, and it’s easy to see why. The distillery has the history, sure (founder Masataka Taketsuru started the brand in 1934), but it also has the whiskies to back it all up, and Yoichi Single Malt is up there with the best.
While all whisky rightly has a claim to being winter-friendly, we reckon Yoichi particularly hits the mark, thanks to its blend of fruity flavours, smoky, peaty notes from its coal-fired distillation, and the bare whisper of salt that comes from Yoichi distillery’s bayside spot. Absolutely sip it neat, but to take advantage of the whisky’s smoky notes, try mixing it in a Penicillin, a cocktail that blends wintry ingredients like honey, ginger syrup and lemon juice that shine with this peaty spirit.
4. Vodka: Archie Rose Native Botanical Vodka
Down Under, we generally treat vodka as a base for warm-weather cocktails like the Seabreeze, Lemon Drop or Caipiroska, but you only need to look to countries like this spirit’s native Russia or Poland to see that it’s right at home in the winter months. Add in some complex native botanicals like lemon scented gum and sunrise lime – as in this fabulous Archie Rose example – and you’re laughing.
While you could do as our northern friends do and drink your vodka straight (even better with a flavoursome infused vodka, we reckon), there’s no shortage of ways to mix this Archie Rose into some cold-weather mixers. You could easily add some herbal depth to a spicy, savoury Bloody Mary (bonus points if it’s alongside a winter brunch staple like shakshuka) or a briney Dirty Martini. But simply serving this vodka with a spicy ginger beer would hit all the right notes for us.
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5. Tequila: Don Julio Añejo Tequila
Typically, tequila comes to us in three main styles: there’s blanco (or silver), which is a clear, bright and unaged spirit. Then there’s reposado (meaning ‘rested’), which spends several months in oak, picking up some colour and flavour along the way. Finally, there’s añejo, which is richer, darker and more complex than the others after spending at least a year in oak. When it comes to wintertime tequila, we reckon it has to be añejo.
After 18 months to two years spent in barrels, Don Julio Añejo becomes deeply-flavoured, full-bodied and rich, though it still retains some of the base spirit’s grassy, citrusy freshness. All up, this makes for a tequila worth savouring neat (you’ll get a better sense of the spirit’s complexities this way) but we reckon it’d also make a perfect addition to a hot chocolate for grown-ups.
6. Cognac: Godet XO Cognac
We’re going to call it right now – Cognac is the king of winter spirits. While the classic image of swirling a brandy snifter in front of the fire comes to mind (it’s the stuff of dreams, honestly), there are plenty of ways to enjoy a Cognac like this XO from Godet.
Here you’ll find classic aged-brandy flavours like rich leather and dried fruits, as well as floral jasmine and violet that gives this real complexity. Yes, serve it neat (maybe with a piece of dark chocolate on the side) and you’ll have a proper good time but, if you want to take things further, there are some winter-style cocktails to consider. The richest of the lot, the Brandy Alexander, is a luxurious blend of Cognac, dark crème de cacao and cream, but if you’re looking for a complex classic, try the Vieux Carré, where it’s mixed with Dom Benedictine, sweet vermouth and rye whiskey.
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7. Coffee liqueur: Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Let’s face it, nothing hits quite like a warm cup of coffee on a cold winter’s morning. Using a global blend of coffee beans from Papua New Guinea, Brazil and Ethiopia, Mr Black gives that same sort of rich, deep, fulfilling coffee flavour to play around with on chilly nights. You could even use it in some warm drinks.
If you’re new here, definitely start with a neat or on-the-rocks serve to get a sense of the full flavour of the liqueur. From there, go with your heart – whether that’s the sweet richness of a Tiramisu Martini, a Cold Brew Negroni or the Dominicana, a rum-and-coffee blend that’s so deeply rich and satisfying you’ll almost wish winter went for longer.
