The Liquid Muse

Hot-N-Steamy!

Warm cocktails for chilly nights

Make the most of the season! If you're in the DC-area, these fine establishments take the chill off with Holiday Cheer. If elsewhere, fire up these cozy cocktails at home.

Cinnamon Toast
(Courtesy of Matchbox, downtown DC)
3/4 oz. Chambord
3/4 oz. Frangelico
6 oz. Freshly-brewed coffee

Pour ingredients into a coffee mug, top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with raw sugar and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Henry Morgan (aka: Grog)
(Courtesy of Eamonn’s, Old Town Alexandria)
1 1/2oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
Lemon Verbena Hot Tea Mixture
Tea Mixture
5 Cups Boiling water
5 Tbs. Lemon Verbena
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Pour rum into a mug. Fill with tea mixture. (At the restaurant, this is additionally garnished with a flaming lemon peel!) Serve hot on a chilly night!

White Hot Chocolate
(Courtesy of Restaurant Eve, Old Town Alexandria, VA)
1/2 oz. Meyers Rum
1 oz. Cardinal Mendoza Brandy
Chocolate mixture
Garnish with Jalapeno dust (air dry jalapenos 5 days, then put through a coffee grinder)

Chocolate Mixture
1/2 oz. Ghirardelli Classic White Flavored Syrup
1/4 oz Red Jalapeno Syrup (boil 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar 15 jalapenos)
5 oz. Steamed Milk

Pour rum, brandy, chocolate mixture into an Irish coffee glass, lightly rimmed with the jalapeno dust. (At the restaurant, this is additionally garnished with Jalapeno Foam!)

Island Cider Hot Toddy
(Courtesy of Cafe Atlantico, downtown DC)
10 oz. fresh Virginia apple cider
2 oz. Captain Morgan spiced rum
1 thin slice of lime
1 thin slice of lemon
1 star anise
2 cloves
1 medium cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon of Papelon brown sugar

To make The Island Cider Hot Toddy: In a glass pitcher mix all dry ingredients with Capitan Morgan spiced rum and apple cider. Very carefully steam mixture to a boiling point, and serve in a tea cup.

*All photos taken by Moshe Zusman