Need some central heating this Christmas? Then check out our guide to the great and the good of hot drinks.
Peppermint and Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
A twist on the classic winter treat!
METHOD
Boil a cup of milk for each serving, stirring constantly to prevent a skin from forming. Add four heaped spoonfuls of hot chocolate powder into a cup. Mix some sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Add the boiled milk to the cups, stirring thoroughly after pouring. Add four pinches of the cinnamon and sugar mixture to the hot chocolate. Break up a peppermint candy stick into small pieces and add to the hot chocolate and serve!
Hot Whiskey
Good for warming up the bones and battling a winter flu!
METHOD
Boil some water. Add a large teaspoon of brown sugar to the glass you intend to serve it in. Add a single measure of whiskey to the sugar and stir. Cut a slice of lemon, and impale with three cloves in each segment of the lemon. Pour the boiled water into the whiskey/sugar over the back of a spoon to prevent scalding the whiskey (and breaking the glass). Stir the mixture, adding honey if you wish. While the mixture is spinning add the clove studded lemon. Serve up and enjoy.
Mulled Wine
Traditional Christmas favourite
METHOD
Pour two bottles of red wine into a large sauce pan (it doesn’t matter which kind because you’re going to drastically alter the flavour). Impale a whole unpeeled orange with cloves all over. Quarter a second orange and add three of the quarters to a pot along with a quarter lemon, sticks of cinnamon and a section of peeled ginger root. Add a tablespoon of honey and place the pot on medium heat. Stir occasionally and when the mixture begins to simmer stir again. Remove from the heat and leave the mixture for 15-20 minutes for it to infuse. Serve hot.
Irish Coffee
A dessert favourite
METHOD
Brew a cup of coffee for each serving. Whip a cupful of double cream until the whipped cream doesn’t fall off the spoon. Heat the serving glasses so that the coffee doesn’t crack them. Add a teaspoon of brown sugar to each cup and then add a measure of whiskey to each cup. Add coffee to each cup, stirring the whiskey and sugar at the same time. Make sure to leave room in the glass for cream! Top the glass off with whipped cream and serve.
Spiced Apple and Cranberry Cider
A warming mulled cider
METHOD
Add two litres of apple cider, six cups of cranberry juice, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, four sticks of cinnamon and a handful of cloves to a pot. Bring the mixture to the simmer. Serve hot with a slice of lemon and a drop of honey.