Winter Cocktails: Proposta Spirits' Drink List

When the cold begins to set in and the thermometer approaches freezing, there's nothing better than warming up, alone or with friends, with a good, warm, and fragrant cocktail. For hot drink enthusiasts and those looking for new taste experiences, here are five surprising and exclusive recipes, created specifically by the Proposta Spirits team.

Celtic & Crown Toddy

Finvara Irish Whiskey envelops the palate with its sweet notes of toffee and vanilla, a touch of dark chocolate and hints of oak, which in this cocktail meet the floral, aromatic and sugary flavours of Whistler's Storm's The Earl Grey liqueur and the sweetness of honey.

RECIPE:

• 50 ml Finvara Irish Whiskey

• 20 ml Whistler’s Storm Earl Grey Tea

• 15 ml lemon juice

• 10-15 ml honey

• hot water

Heat the cup by pouring a little’ of hot water, then empty it. Add Finvara whiskey, lemon and honey. Pour in hot water and stir until the honey is completely dissolved. Garnish with a slice of lemon and optionally cinnamon or cloves. For an even warmer and more pleasant drink: pour the drink into a steel jug (like a cappuccino). Insert the steam lance just below the surface of the liquid. Open the steam and heat exactly as you would for milk. Reach the desired temperature, usually between 55°C and 65°C for a pleasant hot drink. Turn off the steam and pour the drink into the serving cup or glass.

Port & Pine

Spicy and enveloping, this cocktail blends the full-bodied red wine with maturity and the elegance of Port, adding the freshness and herbaceous notes of Sapling's London Dry Gin Climate Positive to the warm, intense, and balsamic flavors of cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon.

RECIPE:
(ingredients for about 4 glasses):

• 300 ml vfull-bodied red wine (to choose from the Proposta Vini catalogue)

• 100 ml Quinta Da Corte Porto Ruby LBV 2018

• 100 ml Sapling London Dry Gin

• 70 ml liquid sugar

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 4-5 cloves

• 4 lightly crushed cardamom berries

• 1 slice of fresh ginger 

Pour the red wine and Port into a small saucepan. Add sugar and all the spices. Heat over low heat, without boiling, for about 10 minutes. Strain the hot liquid and add Sapling's Londo Dry Gin. When needed, heat the drink in the steam wand and pour the hot drink into the serving cup or glass.

Golden Manhattan

This variation of classic Manhattan intoxicates with its sweet, warm flavor where the softness and hints of black pepper of Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon blend with the caramel apple notes of Avallen's Calvados and the chocolate, pepper, and raspberry flavor of Vermouth Karminia.

RECIPE

• 40 ml Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Whiskey

• 20 ml Avallen Frugal Paper Bottle Calvados

• 30 ml Karminia Vermouth

• 2 Bonpland Bitter Chocolate Mace Flower 

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Mix well with a spoon and strain into an ice-cold cup. Garnish: orange peel.

Fire Negroni

Ideal for sipping near a fireplace, this Fire Negroni conquers the palate with its spicy and smoky flavors that well balance the gin base of Peter in Florence and Opificio Numquam Red Vermouth.

RICETTA:

• 30 ml Peter in Florence

• 30 ml Opificio Nunquam Vermouth Rosso

• 15 ml Bud Spencer The Legend Feuerwasser (liquore peperoncino e cannella)

• 30 ml Doragrossa Bitter

Pour all the ingredients into an old fashioned glass. Add ice and mix gently. Garnish with an orange slice or zest and a sprig of rosemary. Ready to serve.

Santa'a Espresso

A Christmas cocktail with the typical flavors of this period: a velvety drink perfect for the holidays with a vodka base, smooth and blueberry from Saplin coffee liqueur from Doragrossa.

RICETTA:

• 30 ml Sapling Vodka Raspberry

• 30 ml Sapling Vodka 

• 20 ml Liquore Caffè Doragrossa

• 15 ml sugar syrup

• 1 shot di Espresso

Pour the ingredients into a shaker, fill it with ice and shake vigorously. Strain everything into an ice-cold cup.