Winter Cocktails - Where to Warm Up With a Drink

December is nearing it’s halfway mark, which means hot cocoa, hot tea, and a personal favorite, hot toddies.

‘Tis the season for hot mixed drinks, and bars and restaurants are serving up. Winter cocktails can be found all over the neighborhood, and several places take the drinks one step further than the usual lemon, tea, and whiskey.

Here are a few spots in the area that offer hot drinks that will titillate your taste buds and warm your belly.


- 196 Smith Street
The Bourbon Hot Toddy at Char No. 4 is made with bourbon, apple cider, juniper, fresh ginger, maple syrup, cinnamon, and cloves - $9 each.


The Palo Cortoddy is made with sherry and muscatel instead of the usual whiskey. The $8 drink is flavored with honey, lemon and ginger.

Rucola - 190 Dean Street
Rucola offers an espresso dessert cocktail, served hot, that comes with Varnelli Amaro, espresso and nutmeg, topped with whipped cream. This sweet eye-opener costs $10.

- 524 Court Street
Buttermilk Channel’s hot toddy, called “The Sailor’s Knot,” comes with two kinds of rum: Duquesne Rhum Agricole and Smith and Cross Navy Strength Rum. This with hot apple cider, lime, and allspice liqueur for $12.

Colonie - 127 Atlantic Avenue
Starting this Friday, Colonie will be offering a mulled wine, made with Cabernet Franc and infused with cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and orange, lemon, and grapefruit zests. The wine will heat on and induction burner on top of the bar, filling the room with the fragrance of winter spices throughout the night.