Winter Cocktails People will Love to See in Your Bar
Every winter, Americans get excited about classic holiday cocktails. Adding a few special beverages to your menu can really contribute to your bottom line. From traditional to trend-forward, these are some of the most popular drinks to serve during this season’s celebrations.
Traditional Winter Cocktails
Apple Cider
This recipe is a given. The sweet and sour flavors of a good hot cider almost completely mask the taste of alcohol, leaving a tart, cidery sparkle on the tongue. Here’s the easiest way to offer up this winter cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 quarts apple cider
1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup high proof Bourbon
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoon whole cloves
Four cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Mix everything except your liquor in a pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, simmer for 15 minutes. Add bourbon, simmer, stir and strain.
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Irish Coffee
You don’t have to be Irish to appreciate this zinger! When it’s cold outside, this cocktail is sure to warm anyone up.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Irish cream liqueur
1.5 oz Irish whiskey
1 cup brewed coffee
1 tbsp whipped cream
1 dash nutmeg
Just mix and serve!
Hot Toddy
The best winter cocktails are warm and sippable. Although many guests may simply go for their “regular beer,” getting people to sample drinks outside their comfort zones can only serve to boost revenue in the long run.
Ingredients:
1 oz cognac
1 oz aged rum
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
5 dashes bitters
Add everything to three ounces of boiling water in a pretty mug. Garnish with a lemon wheel studded with cloves and a cinnamon stick.
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Creative Winter Cocktails
White Chocolate Peppermint Martini
Tis’ the season for chocolate and peppermint flavors. Here’s how to make this popular martini.
Ingredients:
1 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
1/2 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
1 oz. Cream or Half & Half
Rim the glass in melted chocolate and crushed candy canes. Garnish with a peppermint stick dipped in white chocolate.
The Grinch
Just like the naughty Dr. Seuss character who stole Christmas, this drink starts sour but ends up sweet.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Midori
1 oz. Lemon Juice
1 tsp Simple Syrup
Splash of Sprite
Shake over ice, strain and serve in a cocktail glass with a cherry garnish.
Gingersnap
Ginger is a staple flavor over the holidays, and who doesn’t love it in the form of a buttery cookie?
Ingredients:
1/2 oz. Cinnamon Schnapps
1/2 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps
Dash Jagermeister
Pour into a shot glass in the order listed above.
Peach Cobbler
With a delicious flavor profile of creamy peach and butterscotch, this drink sells itself.
Ingredients:
1/2 oz. Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps
Splash Cinnamon Schnapps
Splash of Cream
Pour over ice. You can get creative with this garnish, but a peach slice is always an obvious choice.
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Weathering the Weather
No matter what the temperature, if you choose to market toward a particular season, it does no good unless you let people know. From the typical signage one can place outside of their establishment, to a social media campaign, get the word out there.
Evergreen is a great program that allows you to not only update your seasonal menus, but blast them out to social media as well. Their dashboard is easy to maneuver, and you can handle all of your marketing needs with the click of a button. One thing is for certain, no matter if your bar is located in Florida or Maine, seasonal menus can make a massive impact on revenue.
