Whatever Punxsutawney Phil has to say on Groundhog Day, there’s no doubt there’ll be a few bone-chilling, sub-zero days before the balmy spring weather arrives. Lucky for you, bartenders in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and beyond have been working on some piping hot winter drinks – mulled wine, boozy hot chocolate, spiked cider and more – to get you through the season. See what your favorite spots are serving up, get cozy with one of their warming cocktails and spring will be here before you know it.
Bar Pallino – Bar Pallino
Bartender Jan Brown shares her German family’s secret recipe for mulled wine with patrons at Bar Pallino. No word on what the ingredients are (it’s a secret recipe!) but take a stroll down Newbury Street on a chilly winter’s day to try it for yourself.
Bar Volpe – Nutty Italian
Get over to West Broadway to cozy up to the Nutty Italian at Bar Volpe. Made with Frangelico cream, vanilla vodka, La Colombe coffee and Valrhona Satilia it’ll transport you to Southern Italy right from South Boston.
Eastern Standard – Bourbon & Cider
The team at Eastern Standard doesn’t mess around when it comes to cocktails (hot or cold). For their Bourbon & Cider, they mull their cider in-house with cinnamon, clove, star anise, allspice and orange, and then (as if that weren’t warming and delicious enough already) they add a kick of Angel’s Envy bourbon.
Foundry on Elm – Aztec Hot Chocolate
You can spruce up your hot chocolate with a little spice and some tequila with the Aztec Hot Chocolate at Foundry on Elm. They start with a decadent dark chocolate & oat milk hot cocoa and add fresno chili-infused tequila, sotol, aztec chocolate bitters and a chili powder sprinkle for a perfect mid-winter pick-me-up.
Grafton Street – Hot Buttered Cider
Bundle up and head to Harvard Square to warm up with a Hot Buttered Cider at Grafton Street. The welcoming spot on JFK Street uses vanilla-infused bourbon, apple cider, cloves, cinnamon and butter to create this comforting, cold-weather treat.
Northern Spy – Hot Chocolate
Tis the season – the season for hot cocoa! – and they’ve got the goods at Canton’s Northern Spy. Pop in for dinner, lunch or brunch to try their Housemade Hot Chocolate, which comes topped with a housemade marshmallow and can be boozed up with a bit of vodka or spiced rum.
Lehrhaus – Hot Dan!
The team at Lehrhaus nails the whole winter-in-New-England thing with Hot Dan!, their take on hot buttered rum. With dark rum, niter kibbeh (Ethiopian spiced clarified butter) and berbere honey, it brings the flavors of the Ethiopian-Jewish kitchen to Somerville in a delicious, toasty drink.
Menotomy – Cabin Fever
Take a break from winter homebody mode and make for Menotomy in Arlington to get cozy by the fire with a Cabin Fever. This tasty combination of Evan Williams Bourbon, Bird Dog Maple Whiskey and hot mulled cider is definitely worth braving the elements for.
Golden Lion Photography
Shy Bird – Boozy Hot Chocolate
Make a beeline for South Boston to get your mitts on the Boozy Hot Chocolate at Shy Bird. This yummy combination of mocha and Faccia Brutto Centerbe is topped with torched maraschino fluff for an extra bit of fun (and fanciness).
State Street Provisions – Hot Cider Wassail
If you find yourself down by the harbor, drop by State Street Provisions for nibbles and a Hot Cider Wassail. The SSP version of the traditional English drink is made with bourbon, cider, orange juice, hibiscus, ginger and winter spice.
