Now the days are getting longer and the nights are getting colder, it’s the perfect time to start treating yourself to a selection of deliciously decadent hot alcoholic drinks. Here, Jordan Williams, whisky specialist at House of Malt, shares five ways to elevate hot drinks this autumn.
Is there anything better than cosying up on the sofa with a delicious hot drink in hand on a crisp autumn night? Simple pleasures like this are now valued more than ever before. In fact, a survey by Mackie’s of Scotland has found that 94% of Brits have discovered a new appreciation for them since the beginning of lockdown, and 90% claimed that they will actively seek out simple pleasures more often than before.
If you’ve also been inspired to make the most of the little things, enjoying the pleasure of a delicious hot drink on a frosty evening is a great place to start. And to make your beverage extra special, why not add a boozy twist? If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are five ways to elevate your hot drinks with alcohol this autumn.
Chai latte with extra spice
A chai latte is the perfect autumnal drink – it’s warming, creamy, and the delicious blend of flavours and spices make it taste like autumn in a cup. Plus, alcohol can be a delicious addition to this drink. To add some extra heat to your chai, top the drink up with a shot of spiced rum. The heat and spice perfectly complement the autumnal flavours of the chai, making it the perfect treat for a cold evening.
To make this drink, combine milk and chai powder in a saucepan and leave it to simmer until it’s the right temperature for you. Then simply take it off the heat, add your rum, and serve it in your favourite mug. To make it extra decadent, top it with whipped cream, and don’t forget to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top too.
Mulled wine with a twist
While mulled wine is obviously already a popular boozy hot drink, you can take it to the next level by adding a little something extra to it. To make a mulled wine that’ll knock your socks off, pair it with some top-quality whisky. Not only will this make a strong and tasty beverage, but the warming element of the whisky makes it a great drink to enjoy in the autumn months.
All you need to do to prepare this drink is make a regular mulled wine, and add the whisky just before you serve. To complement the heat of the fiery whisky, add cinnamon and cloves to your mulled wine mixture. And if you want to sweeten it up a bit, add a dash of honey too.
G&Tea
For the ultimate British boozy hot drink, replace tonic with tea to create a delicate and delicious combination of gin and tea. This beverage can be served on many occasions — it’s perfect for anything from a cosy night in, to a boozy autumn tea party. Plus, there are a range of different teas that can be used, such as Earl Grey, chamomile, or peppermint, so it can be made to suit many different tastes.
This is also an incredibly simple drink to make. All you need to do is pour your gin into a teacup, add your teabag to a saucepan with water and heat it until it’s hot but not boiling, then simply top the teacup up with this mixture. If you usually take your tea with sugar, add a little honey to your cup to sweeten it up.
Decadent hot chocolate with caramel rum
If hot chocolate is your ultimate cosy and warming drink, this variation may end up becoming your new favourite. With the sugary combination of chocolate and caramel, this is the perfect drink for anyone with a sweet tooth. The rum also adds an extra level of heat to the beverage, filling it with flavour.
To make this drink, you’ll need a mug of milk and 50g of chocolate per person, as well as a shot of caramel rum (or two if you’d like it a little stronger). Simply warm your milk in a saucepan over medium heat, then take it off and stir the chocolate in until its fully melted. Then add the caramel rum to the mixture, and serve in your favourite mug. If you love a hot chocolate with all the works, top it with whipped cream and drizzle with salted caramel sauce.
Warm up your espresso martini
If you’re looking for a warming alcoholic drink to give you an energy boost, there’s nothing better than a hot espresso martini. This is a great drink to enjoy on a cosy evening in, but you can serve it at swanky events too, such as a dinner party. While expresso martinis are traditionally made with vodka, whisky works particularly well with the hot edition of this drink.
All you need to do to make this drink is combine hot milk, espresso, cocoa powder, and your alcohol of choice, blend it until completely smooth, and serve! To make it a decadent drink, top it with whipped cream and a sprinkling of cocoa powder.
Everyone loves to enjoy a tasty, warming drink as the weather turns colder. To make a hot beverage with a twist this autumn, give one of the boozy drinks above a try.
