Winter will soon be making itself comfortable all across Colorado. Soon the places where we were hiking, rafting and fishing this summer will be covered in snow and ice. One of the best ways to beat the chill is to tackle it from the inside out, literally. Fill your mug with one of our favorite cold-weather drinks this winter by following these simple recipes.
- Hot Cranberry Mule
4 ounces ginger beer
2 ounces cranberry juice
2 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
cranberries
lime wedge
Combine ginger beer and cranberry juice and heat in a small saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave. Pour mixture into a mug. Add vodka and lime juice, and stir gently to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge and fresh cranberries. Serve immediately. - Minty Hot Cocoa Float
1 serving hot cocoa mix (plus the ingredients called for in the package directions)
1/4 cup mint chocolate chip ice cream
1 sprig fresh mint
Prepare the hot cocoa mix according to the package directions. Top with the ice cream and mint. - Boozy S'mores Cocktail
4 ounces hot cocoa
1 ounce chocolate liqueur
1 ounce marshmallow vodka
1 ounce creme de cacao
marshmallows
graham cracker crumbs
chocolate-dipped graham cracker
Add liquors to hot cocoa in a mug. Stir to combine. Add marshmallows to top of mug and brown with a culinary torch or under the broiler of your oven. To broil, position the rack so the top of the marshmallows are 2-3 inches from the heat source. Watch the marshmallows closely as they can go quickly from browned to burnt. To serve, sprinkle the top with graham cracker crumbs and a graham cracker dipped in melted chocolate. - Spiced Cappucini Cocktail
1/2 oz. Old Tom gin
1/2 oz. Licor43
1/4 oz. Kahlua or coffee liqueur
5 oz. freshly brewed coffee
whipped cream for topping
fresh nutmeg
Brew coffee; pour into a heatproof mug or glass. Add gin and liqueurs then top with whipped cream. Grate fresh nutmeg over whipped cream and serve finished cocktail hot. - Ginger Tea Latte
For the Ginger Syrup:
1 1/2 cups filtered water
1 cup organic cane sugar (or sub granulated or raw)
1 cup roughly chopped fresh ginger (~1 large knob)
For the Latte:
1 1/2 – 2 Tbsp ginger syrup
1 1/4 cups unsweetened plain almond milk
Optional: ginger tea | ginger powder or cinnamon (or other spices) for topping
To make the ginger syrup, bring the water, sugar and ginger to a boil, and stir to dissolve sugar. Then reduce heat to a low simmer and continue cooking for 45 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a bottle or jar for easy storage.
To make the ginger latte, heat almond milk in a saucepan or in a mug in the microwave. Then add 1-2 Tbsp ginger syrup. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed. For even more ginger flavor, first steep a ginger tea packet in your almond milk for 3-5 minutes before adding syrup. Sprinkle with a little ginger powder, cinnamon or any other preferred spices, and serve. Ginger syrup should keep in the fridge for up to a month. Use for lattes, as a ginger-infused sweetener in cocktails, or with tonic water to make “ginger soda.”
Now that you have some of our favorite warm drink recipes you can start warming up with a tasty beverage. Our second favorite way to warm up is by planning for summer. For all your warm weather adventure needs, call our Trip Specialists at 877-RAFTING.