The temperatures have already dipped below zero this winter, so you need to stay warm – and what better way than with a delightful hot drink? Perhaps you can sip it while staring into a toasty fireplace and thinking of a warm weather destination like Tahiti or Hawaii.
We have some suggestions from the ladies of our marketing team on how to spice up your beverage selection this winter. Keep reading to learn a new version of hot chocolate, a Viennese coffee drink and a way to take your wine to the next level.
Hot Mulled Wine from Karolina S.
Have you ever thought of heating your wine? It might sound like you are ruining your well crafted drink, but Europeans have been warming their wines for centuries. The key is to add a little brandy into the mix, and to play around with your ingredients and wines. For instance, I decided to substitute honey for the sugar in this recipe, and loved the outcome.
Ingredients:
- 4 qt. dry red wine (e.g., zinfandel, pinot, burgundy)
- 1 qt. dry white wine
- 1 pint brandy
- 1 c. white sugar (more to taste)
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 12 whole cloves
- 1/8 tsp. allspice
- 1/8 tsp. mace
- 2 oranges, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
Instructions:
- Pour the red wine into a pot on low heat.
- Stir in the spices and the sugar until it’s dissolved.
- Add in the white wine and brandy.
- Lastly, add in the lemon and orange and let steep on low heat for an hour.
Recipe courtesy of Viking River Cruises.
Puerto Rican Hot Chocolate from Erica K.
On a recent trip to Puerto Rico I learned about a new and interesting way to make hot chocolate. The Cortes chocolate company, which has been cultivating cocoa since 1929, makes a special chocolate bar that’s only for making hot chocolate. Now what makes this drink stand out is that they will add a slice of cheddar cheese to the hot drink. This combination may seem odd, but it adds a richness to the hot chocolate. You can find Cortes’ chocolate bars online and in some grocery stores.
Ingredients:
- 1 portion of Cortes chocolate
- 1 c. of milk
- 1 square of cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Melt one portion of the chocolate bar in a pot on low heat with one cup of milk (add one cup per chocolate portion).
- Stir until the chocolate is melted.
- Mix in the cheddar cheese before serving.
Cafe Maria Theresa from Caroline T.
If you are looking for a little jolt, this Austrian-based coffee is named after the refined Maria Theresa, the Austrian Empress who lived at the remarkable Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna. I plan to make this drink again, but I think I’ll skip the orange zest because the Grand Marnier has such a delicious orange flavor and I don’t want to overpower the coffee flavor with too much orange.
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. freshly brewed coffee
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 2 tbsp. Grand Marnier or Cointreau
- 1 tsp. whipped cream
- 1/2 tsp. orange zest for garnish
Instructions:
- In a hot cup, add the sugar and alcohol. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the coffee.
- Top with a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with the orange zest and chocolate shavings if you wish.
Recipe courtesy of Viking River Cruises.
So now you’ve got lots of ways to stay warm this winter. Let us know if you try any of these drinks because we are eager to hear your thoughts. Do you have any other cold weather drinks you’d recommend?
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