by Nick Townsend
Winter brings many familiar comforts: cozying up by a warm fire, rolling around in the snow, perhaps celebrating the solstice or another holiday. Whatever the occasion, it doesn’t hurt to have something delicious to sip while you’re celebrating the cold season. Below are three drinks—two alcoholic, one not—that are excellent on a long cold night, whether you’re alone or with a loved one.
Mulled Pear Gin Fizz
Makes one drink
This complex and spicy drink is relatively straightforward once you prepare the mulling syrup, so it works well to do that part in advance. People’s sells mulling spice pre-mixed in bulk, but you could easily create your own mulling spice blend and simmer that in its place. This drink is also well suited to preparation for a group. Simply triple or quadruple the quantities and mix in a pitcher with plenty of ice. One recipe of the mulling syrup will make a little over five drinks.
Ingredients
For the syrup:
½ cup of sugar (cane sugar, coconut sugar, agave, etc.)
½ cup of water
1-2 tablespoons bulk mulling spice
2-4 thin slices of fresh ginger
For the drink (per serving):
1.5 oz gin
1.5 oz lemon juice
1.5 oz mulling spice syrup
Ice
4 oz sparkling pear cider (sub sparkling apple cider if unavailable)
¼ of a D’Anjou or Bartlett pear, sliced thin
Instructions
In a small saucepan combine sugar and water over high heat and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce to a simmer and add the mulling spice and ginger. Simmer over low heat for five minutes, until the spice smells strongly infused into the syrup.
Strain out the spices and ginger and set aside to cool.
Combine the gin, lemon juice, syrup, and ice in a tall glass and stir for about one minute. Top up with the sparkling pear cider and give it another quick stir. Garnish with the pear slices and serve.
Shoyu Maple Whiskey Sour
Makes one drink
This drink is equal parts cozy and bracing, thanks to a small amount of unpasteurized soy sauce. The hint of saltiness draws out flavor in both the whiskey and maple syrup. The bulk maple syrup and bulk soy sauce live right next to each other in the bulk section at People’s, so you can pick up both star ingredients for this cocktail in one go. Whiskey or bourbon would work excellent here, as would Meyer lemon juice if you have access to it. If the addition of the soy sauce scares you, you could simply omit it and end up with a standard sour, but it’s worth trying at least once.
Ingredients
2 oz whiskey or bourbon
1.25 oz maple syrup
1.5 oz lemon juice
½ tsp Nama Shoyu
Ice
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake for about a minute until the mixture is frothy. Strain into a cup with more ice.
Blood Orange Spritz
Makes one drink
This is a simple blueprint for a zero-proof drink that’s perfect for all seasons, but especially delicious in the winter when fresh citrus is at its peak. People’s boasts an impressive selection of mandarins, tangelos, pummelos, and other citruses that would be great here. As long as it’s something you’d enjoy snacking on, it would taste good in this drink. This recipe contains no alcohol, but you could add a shot of vodka or gin, or substitute the sparking water for a dry sparkling wine.
Ingredients
2 oz fresh squeezed blood orange juice (or use another citrus of your choice)
.5 oz simple syrup (optional)
3-5 dashes orange or grapefruit bitter
Sparkling water
Ice
One ribbon or strip of lemon zest
Instructions
Combine the juice, simple syrup if using, and the bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 30-60 seconds.
Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top up with sparkling water or wine, garnish with the lemon zest, stir, and serve.
