What Are You Drinking New Year’s Eve?

Maybe it’s much too early in the game, but we thought we’d ask you just the same: What are you drinking New Year’s Eve?

And now that we’ve misappropriated a perfectly lovely Frank Loesser song, we’ll make up for it by giving you a couple of great answers to your holiday libation quandary. And whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, winter solstice or none of the above, the following make for the perfect wintertime adult beverages. Cuz baby, it’s cold outside (oh … sorry again, Mr. Loesser), and these cocktails will definitely keep you nice and toasty.

First up is Chocolate and whiskey — two great tastes that taste great together — which star in the spicy Pimandes, coming to us from the Hotel Monaco D.C.’s Poste Moderne Brasserie and Beverage Director Kaine Gish.  And our second cocktail is a classic Mulled Cider, which if you don’t feel like whipping one up yourself, you’ll find in the lobbies of our hotels at our enhanced wine hour all this winter.

Photo: Stephanie Breijo

Pimandes

For drink:

1¼ ounces WhistlePig Rye Whiskey

¼ ounce Grand Marnier

3 ounces spicy hot chocolate

For garnish:

Amaretto whipped marshmallow

Chocolate-covered almonds (spicy if you can find them)

Espelette (or other mild chili powder)

For whipped marshmallow:

¾ cup heavy cream

½ cup marshmallow creme

2 tablespoons amaretto

¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For whipped marshmallow, combine all ingredients and whip to medium peaks. In an Irish coffee glass add WhistlePig whiskey, Grand Marnier and spicy hot chocolate (brands include Dagoba, Equal Exchange and Lake Champlain Chocolates). Top with amaretto whipped marshmallow. Garnish with almonds and dust with Espelette.

Mulled Cider

7 ounces hot, unfiltered apple cider

1 ounce Rock & Rye(recipe below)

Top with whipped cream

Dust with cinnamon

Rock and Rye:

1 750-milliliter bottle of Old Crow Bourbon

¼ cup rock candy or sugar in the raw

1 vanilla bean

2 cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon cloves

4 pieces star anise

Peel of one lemon and one orange

Let the mixture sit for one week prior to use.Filter back into cleaned bourbon bottle prior to use and starting a new batch.