The evenings grow darker, the air turns crisp, and you just long for a cozy and warm drink that you can wrap your hands around and that warms you up from the inside. Luckily, there are several great hot Irish whiskey drinks that do just that – some smooth and sweet, some deliciously spicy. We’ll give you the best recipes for Irish whiskey drinks for cozy Irish autumn and winter nights.
And you don’t have to be a whiskey drinker per se – in the mix, the spirit can have a very different taste and give the drink a special aroma that makes it perfect to enjoy when the weather gets cold and windy and just screams for a hot sip.
Irish Coffee
Of course we have to start with the classic and iconic Irish coffee. It’s not only hot, but it’s also a treat for every coffee lover – and it makes you awake even when it’s getting dark outside. Born on a stormy night at Foynes airbase in the 1940s, Irish Coffee is perfect for Irish winter weather.
How to make it? You’ll need hot coffee, of course an Irish whiskey – a single pot still is the best choice because of its oiliness and surface tension – brown sugar, and fresh, lightly whipped cream. Mix the coffee and whiskey with brown sugar and top it with the cream. The secret to a perfect layer: Pour the cream gently over the back of a spoon so it floats effortlessly on top.
If you want all the tips, more backstory, and a hands-on experience making Irish coffee, just visit our Irish coffee masterclass – available every day at 1.15 pm
Hot Irish Whiskey or Irish Hot Toddy
You can’t talk about hot whiskey without mentioning the classic. Hot whiskey or Irish hot toddy (that’s usually made with Scotch) is a staple in the winter and a favourite for warming up and soothing the soul on frosty nights.
Of course it’s not only hot Irish whiskey but also contains boiling water, honey or brown sugar for sweetness, and a lemon studded with cloves for a bit of freshness and as a piece of decoration for your winter drink.
This drink is not only warm and comforting but also simple and easily customisable to your taste.
The Winter Old Fashioned
Old fashioned is an Irish whiskey cocktail favourite for many reasons – but did you know that there’s also a hot version of it? While replacing the ice with heat and adding a bit of spice, the winter drink maintains the balanced character of the original.
Here’s what you need: Take Irish whiskey and add hot water, Demerara syrup, and a dash of bitters. Orange peel and star anise can be used to garnish the drink and create that classic winter look.
Whiskey warmer with spiced apple
Cold autumn and winter weather is the perfect time to create desserts and drinks with hot apple. There’s just something really comforting, festive, and nostalgic about baked apple. And of course it tastes amazing as it combines the freshness of the fruit and the sweetness that is especially prominent when the apple is heated up. So, it’s really no wonder that there is a hot Irish whiskey drink that incorporates the winter fruit.
Just add warm spiced apple juice or cider to your Irish whiskey and garnish the drink with a cinnamon stick, clove and maybe a slice of fresh apple.
Hot Irish whiskey with ginger and honey
In winter, there’s simply no way you can miss out on hot drinks with ginger or honey – wether it’s because you like the taste or because you’re fighting a cold. In this case, the combination is purely for your enjoyment: Pour some Irish whiskey and hot water into a glass onto fresh ginger slices, then add a bit of honey and a lemon. This combination of bold flavours is the ideal drink to soothe you on chilly days when you need a warming kick. And the heat of the ginger complements the hot whiskey mix beautifully.
source header photo: Jaclyn Baxter on Unsplash
