Cold Weather Libations

I'm always excited when fall comes, the leaves drop, days get shorter and the temperature drops.  That means its Hot Rum Drink time - actually its always hot rum drink time but it goes over better in the fall/winter season.  Here's one of my favourites, I got the recipe from a Trader Vic's book:

1 cup of milk heated (if you have one of those milk frothers this is the time to use it)
1 tsp berry sugar
1 oz dark rum or spiced rum - Sailor Jerry is a good one
1 dash angostura bitters (seriously)
sprinkle nutmeg

This is seriously good and the bitters for some reason comes through almost caramel-y

If anybody has a favourite cold weather drink they'd like to share, please post it.
Mark

Good ol' tea works for me. If you're talking about the odd alcoholic beverage, Mark, then a slightly warmed brandy such as Asbach would be my choice. I love the golden color and the aroma wafting up from the snifter.

It doesn't have to be alcoholic - tea is good - nothing like a morning cup of coffee.

Chicken broth. I have a bunch of chicken base and all it takes is some hot water to turn it into something warming. Of course most of the time I add a bit of granulated garlic, blk pepper, and some parsley. The chicken base is nothing like bouillon, that's salty and this isn't.

I've also been known to make a big pot of homemade Chai tea frequently. I love the stuff. When it's homemade one can choose what the sweetener is and the amount.

For alcohol I drink more scotch.

Marko, many years ago my neighbor and I would sit out and drink bourbon, scotch, rum, and mix it with milk as a sort of highball. He thought I was insane until he tried it. Then he'd laugh like heck... "Here are two grown men, just having a glass of milk.", he'd say. He thought that was hilarious and he'd roar over it as he enjoyed his "mountain milk". I'd call us "hill folk". I never did think of trying bitters in it, but that's easy enough.

I've got to ask, what is berry sugar? We don't have Sailor Jerry either. Is that a spiced rum?

Not on topic, but I do a lot more baking when the weather gets cold. Bread mostly. I love fresh yeast bread made from my freshly ground wheat. Once I start baking we pretty much don't buy commercial bread until the weather warms again.

Still off topic, we were discussing just the other day that it's almost time to get a pot of baked beans going on the woodstove. There's nothing better than baked beans slowly cooking all day on the back of the woodstove. I have no idea why, but it can't be duplicated by the oven, the cook top, or crock pot. They get close, but it's just not the same product even though the recipe is identical and the same dutch oven is used.

There's nothing like a mug of warm milk before bed, I still know how to party.  Berry sugar is jus t a bit finer than regular white sugar but not as fine as icing sugar, it might be called confectioners sugar also.  Yes sailor jerry is spiced rum, any spiced or dark rum will do but not white rum. It doesn't seem to work. I found a new (to me) spiced rum recently called The Lash. Very nice. I'm betting bourbon would work, maybe Wild Turkey.  I can smell those beans cooking.

Mark, great recipe and will surely try this winter although I don't drink much rum.

Like Brian I am more a Scotch and/or Bourbon southern gent.

I have been enjoying Balvenie Doublewood as the weather cools as well as Weller 12 year. The Weller is a great undiscovered treat- from Buffalo Trace, same mash as Pappy, different barrels. Fraction of the cost.

Add ice and I am set!

I also enjoy a wee dram on occasion. Currently it's Laphroaig. While I am not a bourbon drinker, I do enjoy a nice rye, something that doesn't seem to get much attention.

I also enjoy a wee dram on occasion. Currently it's Laphroaig. While I am not a bourbon drinker, I do enjoy a nice rye, something that doesn't seem to get much attention.

I provided a warm home for a wayward bottle of Bulliett Rye last winter. I am saddened to report that the little guy didn't make it through the season.

Freddy, when in the mood I like a little spice and Rye is the perfect answer!

I also enjoy a wee dram on occasion. Currently it's Laphroaig. While I am not a bourbon drinker, I do enjoy a nice rye, something that doesn't seem to get much attention.

I provided a warm home for a wayward bottle of Bulliett Rye last winter. I am saddened to report that the little guy didn't make it through the season.

Freddy, when in the mood I like a little spice and Rye is the perfect answer!

Kevin, I like Old Overholt Rye. Bulleit is definitely smoother and, to my very unsophisticated palate, sweeter. Believe it or not, that is why I prefer the Old Overholt. Mind you, if someone was to offer me a bit of Bulleit, it would be awfully rude to decline, wouldn't it?

Mind you, if someone was to offer me a bit of Bulleit, it would be awfully rude to decline, wouldn't it?

That in fact would not be very genteel nor connote the qualities associated with a gentleman of good repute for that matter (written in the voice, I say, I say, of Foghorn Leghorn).