Move Over Mulled Wine, here are six hot drinks to try this winter in Sydney. Warm your cold hands on these interesting winter warmers available at the following bars.
The Glenmore
The Blazer is a strong, short and feisty winter drink. With its strong spirit base of Scotch, it is flamed and thrown with sugar, water, bitters and winter spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise or cloves. The bartenders at The Glenmore like to decrease the volume of the drink because of the tremendous punch. They say it’s the perfect drink to sip on and enjoy like a glass of wine or a fine Scotch; you don’t want to rush it. (pictured above).
The Glenmore, 96 Cumberland St, The Rocks, 9247 4794, The Glenmore
The Imperial Paddington
The Imperial change their hot drinks menu weekly. This week they have hot buttered rum brewing in a soup kettle behind the bar. It has dark spiced rum with butter, which is infused with spiced sugar syrup, vanilla cloves and cinnamon. It is mighty tasty. Last week’s special was hot buttered bourbon (pictured above).
The Imperial Paddington, 252 Oxford Street, Paddington, 9331 2023, Facebook
Ramblin’ Rascals Tavern
“Pops hot buttered grog” sounds as welcoming and warm as Pop’s hugs and is quite the mouthful. But the guys at Ramblin’ Rascals describe this cocktail as a sophisticated sip. The OG, Martell cognac is stirred with their own rascal butter mix and hot water for $18. This seems like the kind of drink to enjoy in a big leather armchair by the fireside. Yes please!
Ramblin’ Rascals Tavern, 199 Elizabeth St, Facebook
Jimmy Liks
Asian eatery and cocktail bar, Jimmy Liks, is producing some winter specialities we couldn’t look past. Have you ever heard of a cocktail called a “Bakar Neraka”? This is something we stumbled upon and were amazed. Made with Kraken spiced rum, La Fee absinthe, Cointreau and star anise it is served warm or flaming. Jimmy Liks have a Friday afternoon happy hour too, which means all cocktails are $10 each.
Jimmy Liks, 186-188 Victoria Street, Potts Point, 8354 1400 Facebook
Trinity Bar
Trinity Bar on Crown Street, Surry Hills, have not one, but four Hot Toddies to choose from. We love Hot Toddies! They’re like medicine that cure every cold and flu. You can choose from the following variations:
- Scotch – Johnnie Walker Black Label, honey, hot water and a slice of lemon with cloves
- Irish – Jameson, brown sugar, hot water and a slice of lemon with cloves
- Rum – Appleton Estate V/X, house made spiced sugar syrup, hot water, a slice of orange with cloves
- Port – Galway Pipe, house made spiced sugar syrup, hot water, slice of lemon with cloves.
So many options, so many hot toddies. You have nothing to lose, except that cold!
Trinity Bar, 505 Crown Street, 9319 6802, Facebook
Grandma’s Bar
Finally to round up the list, we have a hot drink at Grandma’s Bar, the place anyone can go to feel warm and cosy. They’re serving mulled wine with a twist. They caramelise a whole pineapple with brown sugar, star anise, cloves, cinnamon and, most importantly, rum. When the beautiful sticky sweet-spiced pineapple is ready, they throw in some medium spiced red wine and warm that slowly. When it’s ready you can smell the mulled wine as you walk into the bar. It sounds like a recipe that’s been passed down through the generations, from their grandmas. Not bad for $12 a tea cup.
Grandma’s Bar, Basement, 275 Clarence Street, 9264 3004, Facebook
Have we missed any? Share your favourite hot winter drink with us!