Let’s Get Toasty, B2 Bistro + Bar, Red Bank
Made with Clyde May’s bourbon, nocello, rumchata, and fresh French-pressed coffee, the Let’s Get Toasty cocktail at B2 Bistro + Bar will do just that. Topped with hand-whipped cream, dark chocolate shavings and torched cloves, this winter cocktail will get you right into the holiday spirit.
B2 Bistro + Bar, 141 Shrewsbury Avenue, Red Bank; 732-268-8555
Mexican Hot Chocolate, Frankie, Jersey City
Australian eatery Frankie has turned this winter staple into a tequila-inspired cocktail with a hint of spice—and they’re sharing the recipe for you to try at home. Their Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe makes 10-12 drinks, which is perfect for your smaller gatherings this holiday season. Mix together whole milk (2 quarts), cream (½ quart), ancho chili pods (15 grams), dried costner chili (10 grams), chili powder (½ tablespoon), brown cane sugar (75 grams), sugar (60 grams), bitter chocolate (50 grams), cocoa powder (50 grams), 2 cinnamon sticks, and salt (10 grams). Combine all ingredients and bring to just below a boil, divide into mugs, and add Mijenta tequila to each one (2 ounces…or more!). You can also taste at the restaurant.
Frankie, 264 Grove Street, Jersey City; 201-333-0170
Colada Hot Chocolate, Bourré, Atlantic City
Following along with putting a twist on the classic hot chocolate, Bourré is transforming a summer favorite into a warm and wintry cocktail. Combining pina colada puree, hot chocolate, and Bacardi coconut rum, this sweet and rich drink will make you feel the warmth of the summer. Of course, no Pina colada or hot chocolate is complete without a heaping topping of fresh whipped cream.
Bourré, 201 S. New York Avenue, Atlantic City; 609-246-6670
Apple Cocker, Willow Creek Winery, Cape May
Step aside, apple cider. This winery’s take on a classic apple drink doesn’t just highlight the one fruit. Epiphany spiced fig brandy, Wilde Cock cranberry cabernet, and Wilde Cock apple are mixed together to create the hot beverage, and it’s topped off with eight ounces of apple cider. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy on the coldest of winter days.
Willow Creek Winery, 160-168 Stevens Street, West Cape May; 609-770-8782
Winter Orchard, The Meeting House, Princeton
Served in a glass coffee cup, The Meeting House’s Winter Orchard combines classy and modern to create the perfect winter cocktail. Apple brandy (1 ounce) and apple cider (1 ounce) are the stars of this drink, with lemon (½ ounce), Grand Marnier (¼ ounce), and Lillet Rose (¾ oounce) to give it a bitter taste. The addition of demerara sugar (½ ounce) cuts the bitterness to create the perfect mix of flavors. Enjoy it at home by mixing all ingredients in a shaker, stir, and finish with hot water and garnishes of apple, orange, and fresh mint.
The Meeting House, 277 Witherspoon Street, Princeton; 609-436-7891
Rum Ginger Cider, The Pier House, Cape May
Served in a tall glass, with fresh whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, the Pier House’s Rum Ginger Cider will warm you up from the first sip. Made with spiced rum, hot apple cider, and Domaine de Canton (ginger liqueur), this hot, bitter and sweet cocktail is the perfect winter treat.
The Pier House, 1317 Beach Avenue, Cape May; 609-884-9000
Harry’s Daughter, Jersey City
This Caribbean-inspired gastropub is embracing all kinds of warm cocktails this winter, from wine to hot coffee. Mulled wine, topped with a cinnamon stick and lemon wedge, is the perfect spiced drink to get you into the Christmas spirit, and the spiked apple cider will leave you wanting more. Their Irish Coffees (traditionally made with fresh coffee and Irish whiskey) are the perfect nightcaps to a long, cold winter day.
Harry’s Daughter, 339 Communipaw Avenue, Jersey City; 201-433-2471