19 Winter Whiskey Cocktails For Holiday Dinners, Après Ski, And Bowl Games

Winter whiskey cocktails can be as simple as honey, lemon, and bourbon in a warm mug or as showy as a Ski Lift with its foam standing above the rim of the glass. These 19 recipes cover hot toddies, a pot of wassail for a crowd, Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and dessert-style drinks, and most of them are made in a shaker or a mixing glass.

This article used to be focused only on bourbon, but there are so many great whiskey cocktails that are good for winter that we wanted to expand the article to include them. Whether you are having a drink with your holiday dinner, relaxing in the lodge for some après ski, warming up after a day of ice fishing or snowmobiling, or watching a bowl game with the guys, these whiskey cocktails are sure to put a smile on everyone's face this winter. If you are just getting started on the season, our fall whiskey cocktails are a good warm-up.

Wassail by Jeptha Creed Distillery

Jeptha Creed Distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky, an easy stop on a bourbon guys trip out of Louisville, makes this a big-pot recipe, which is a good fit for a holiday open house with work colleagues or a house full of family. Apples studded with cloves simmer in cider and citrus for up to 45 minutes, and the bourbon goes in after the pot comes off the heat.

Father-Son Trips Made Easy: Eight All-Inclusive Resorts

All-inclusive resorts for a father-son trip - Caribbean and Mexico beaches, a Wyoming ranch, an Alaska lodge. One rate, zero logistics, more time together.

ManTripping

Read More

Best Walkie-Talkies for Cruises in 2026

The five best Walkie-Talkie for a Cruise Ship allows you to stay connected on a cruise ship and make your trip perfect fun.

CruiseWestCoast

Read More

9-Day Cambodia and Thailand Private Sightseeing Tour

A 9-day private tour of Angkor, Chiang Mai and Bangkok with guides, temples and canal boat rides, ideal for culture-loving luxury travelers.

Viator (affiliate)

$3,665.00See Current Price

Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya

Get ready for the ultimate adults-only getaway. Introducing Margaritaville Beach Resort Riviera Maya, the first adults-only all-inclusive property. Now Open!

ResortsMargaritaville Island Reserve

Book with Flow Voyages

Promoted by FlowAds

Ingredients

• 2 cups Jeptha Creed Wheated Bourbon
• 1 tablespoon Ne Oublie Black Walnut Bitters
• 2 apples
• 6 cups apple cider
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Cinnamon skewer with apple and orange slices, to garnish

Method

1. Poke the whole cloves into the apples on all sides.
2. Add the apples, spices, and juices to a large pot over medium-low heat.
3. Bring to a simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat and take out the apples and whole cloves.
5. Add the bourbon and bitters.
6. Ladle into mugs and garnish with the cinnamon skewer.

More at Jeptha Creed.

Man Gear Pick of the Month

November's Pick

Amazon (affiliate)

COROS Pace 4 Pro GPS Sport Watch

Why we picked it: a screen big and bright enough to double as a photo frame, a titanium and sapphire build that came through a month of daily wear without a scratch, and battery life that still runs weeks between charges.

Check The Price

October's Pick Made In Cookware - Cleaver - Full Tang With Olive Wood Handle - Crafted in France $199.00 August's Pick LiberNovo Maxis Electric Big and Tall Ergonomic Office Chair, Graphite 52cm $1,393.00 July's Pick Powerful Propane Torch Gun, Adjustable Flame Thrower Gun, Kitchen Torch with Detachable Design, Flamethrower Blow Torch for BBQ, Searing Steak, Welding, Camping Charcoal Lighter(Tank Not Included) $39.99

Promoted by FlowAds

SSK Hot Toddy by Billy Langenbacher

Billy Langenbacher, lead bartender at SaltRock Southwest Kitchen at Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona, Arizona, calls this his go-to whenever a guest asks for something hot. Ginger brings the spice, honey the sweetness, and lemon the brightness, and a splash of black tea pulls the flavors together. The resort also calls it great for camping or sitting next to a hot fire.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Old Forester bourbon
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz honey ginger syrup
• Splash of black tea

Method

1. For the syrup, slice 2 cups of ginger and steep it in hot water for 20 minutes.
2. Blend, strain, and add an equal amount of honey.
3. Add all the ingredients to a mug and enjoy.

More at Amara Resort and Spa.

The Captain's Toddy by The Helmsman Kitchen And Bar

The Helmsman Kitchen & Bar at Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa takes its cue from Mystic's maritime history and the cider making at nearby B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill. Bourbon, apple cider, and a house-made cinnamon syrup bring the seasonal flavors, and ginger beer and fresh lemon give it a bright, spicy finish after a chilly day on the Connecticut coast.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz bourbon
• 2 1/2 oz apple cider
• 1 oz ginger beer
• 1/2 oz cinnamon simple syrup
• 1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• Cinnamon stick, to garnish

More at The Helmsman Kitchen & Bar.

9 Lives Old Fashioned by Jeptha Creed Distillery

Jeptha Creed released its Solera Aged Bourbon for the distillery's 10th anniversary, and it brings together all nine heirloom corn varieties the distillery grows, which is where this drink gets its name. The recipe stays simple so the bourbon comes through, with just a quarter ounce of cinnamon molasses syrup and orange bitters.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Jeptha Creed Solera Aged Bourbon
• 1/4 oz cinnamon molasses syrup
• 3 dashes Jeptha Creed Ne Oublie Orange Bitters
• Cinnamon stick and torched orange peel, to garnish

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir.
2. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
3. Garnish with the cinnamon stick and torched orange peel.

Sagamore Honey Orange Old Fashioned by Sagamore Whiskey

Sagamore lets the caramel and baking spice in its High Rye Straight Bourbon lead here. Honey syrup replaces the usual sugar cube for a rounder sweetness, walnut bitters join the orange bitters, and a fresh orange peel lifts the finish.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Sagamore High Rye Straight Bourbon
• 1/4 oz honey syrup
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• 2 dashes walnut bitters
• Orange peel, to garnish

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir.
2. Strain into a rocks glass with ice and garnish with the orange peel.

More at Sagamore Whiskey.

Spiced Maple Old Fashioned by Kristen Love

Kristen Love, director of F&B outlets at InterContinental New York Barclay, serves this holiday Old Fashioned with Edmond's Honor Bourbon. Maple syrup takes the place of sugar, and a cinnamon stick in the glass adds winter spice as you sip.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Edmond's Honor Bourbon
• 1/2 oz maple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange twist and cinnamon stick, to garnish

Method

1. Combine the bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir until well chilled.
2. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
3. Express the oils from the orange twist over the drink, then garnish with the twist and cinnamon stick.

Maple Old Fashioned by Lucas Huff of Minden Mill Distillery

Minden Mill bartender and brand ambassador Lucas Huff created this one, and it's available at the distillery's Heritage Bar in Nevada. It uses the distillery's single estate American single malt instead of bourbon, so you can taste how a different whiskey changes a familiar recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Minden Mill American Single Malt
• 1/4 oz pure maple syrup
• 3 dashes Orleans Bitters
• Burnt orange peel and maraschino cherry, to garnish

Method

1. Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass.
2. Pour into a rocks glass with ice and garnish with the burnt orange peel and cherry.

More at Minden Mill.

Bourbon Sazerac by Old Elk

The Sazerac is served neat, so it's a slow sipper for a cold night instead of something refreshing. Old Elk's version pairs the vanilla, caramel, and oak of its Slow-Cut bourbon with Peychaud's bitters and the anise from an absinthe rinse, and the lemon oils keep it from getting heavy.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Old Elk Slow-Cut Blended Straight Bourbon
• 1 sugar cube
• 3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
• 1/4 oz absinthe, for rinsing the glass
• Lemon peel, to garnish

Method

1. Chill a rocks glass with ice and water or in the freezer.
2. In a mixing glass, muddle the sugar cube with the bitters and a splash of water until dissolved.
3. Add the bourbon, fill the mixing glass with ice, and stir for 20 to 30 seconds until well chilled.
4. Dump the ice from the rocks glass, add the absinthe, swirl to coat the inside, and discard the excess.
5. Strain the cocktail into the glass with no ice.
6. Squeeze the lemon peel, peel side down, over the drink to spray its oils across the surface, then garnish with it.

More at Old Elk.

Middle West Manhattan by Middle West Spirits

Middle West Spirits in Ohio starts with its Dark Pumpernickel Straight Rye, which has a deep, toasty character. Sweet vermouth and five dashes of Angostura add baking spice, and a half ounce of OYO Stone Fruit Vodka softens the rye with a hint of orchard fruit.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Straight Rye
• 1/2 oz OYO Stone Fruit Vodka
• 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
• 5 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 Luxardo maraschino cherry, to garnish

Method

1. Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and stir.
2. Garnish with the Luxardo cherry.

More at Middle West Spirits.

Burnt Orange Black Manhattan by Dakota Robles

Dakota Robles of The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in Charlotte, North Carolina, starts with the Black Manhattan, which uses amaro where a classic Manhattan uses sweet vermouth, then keeps some vermouth in the glass anyway. A burnt orange syrup adds a touch of smoky citrus to the bittersweet Averna and Sagamore Rye.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Sagamore Rye
• 3/4 oz Averna Amaro
• 1/2 oz Antica sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz burnt orange syrup
• 2-3 dashes orange bitters
• Torched orange twist, to garnish

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled.
2. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with the torched orange twist.

More at The Ballantyne.

Paper Plane by Il Bar at Hotel Seville NoMad

Il Bar at Hotel Seville NoMad in New York City pours the Paper Plane with Bulleit Bourbon. It's four equal parts, so it's easy to remember, and the Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon keep it brighter than the stirred drinks on this list.

Ingredients

• 1 oz Bulleit Bourbon
• 1 oz Aperol
• 1 oz Amaro Nonino
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds until well chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and serve immediately.

More at Hotel Seville NoMad.

The Vintage Car by Jeptha Creed Distillery

This one is built like a Sidecar, with Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bourbon in place of the brandy. Spiced simple syrup and black walnut bitters push it toward winter, and the cinnamon sugar on half the rim lets you choose how sweet each sip is.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bourbon
• 2 dashes Ne Oublie Black Walnut Bitters
• 3/4 oz dry orange liqueur
• 1/2 oz spiced simple syrup
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• Cinnamon sugar, for rimming

Method

1. Half-rim a coupe glass with cinnamon sugar.
2. Add all liquid ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake well.
3. Double strain into the prepared coupe glass.

More at Jeptha Creed.

The Bourbon Garden by Luigi Flores

Luigi Flores created the Bourbon Garden at doma Wynwood in Miami with winter in mind, pairing Maker's Mark with the tart bite of cranberry. Averna and allspice dram add an herbal side, lemon and honey balance it out, and an egg white gives it a foam top for the Peychaud's bitters.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Maker's Mark
• 1/2 oz Averna
• 1/4 oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
• 1/2 oz cranberry juice
• 1/4 oz lemon juice
• 1/4 oz honey
• 2 dashes Peychaud's Bitters, plus more for the foam
• 1 egg white
• Orange twist and 1 cherry, to garnish

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker and dry shake vigorously without ice for 10 to 15 seconds.
2. Add ice and shake hard for another 10 to 12 seconds.
3. Double strain into a rocks glass over one large rock.
4. Garnish with Peychaud's Bitters on the foam, the cherry, and the orange twist.

More at doma Wynwood.

Spiced Grove by Chicken Cock Whiskey

Pumpkin, caramel, and apple cider give the Spiced Grove its holiday-table flavor, and Chicken Cock's wheated bourbon keeps it smooth. The toasted marshmallow on top gives it a fireside finish, close to a s'more in a glass.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Chicken Cock Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 1/2 oz pumpkin puree
• 1/2 oz apple cider
• 1 oz caramel syrup
• Small toasted marshmallow and pumpkin spice sprinkles, to garnish

Method

1. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with the toasted marshmallow and pumpkin spice sprinkles.

More at Chicken Cock Whiskey.

The Ski Lift by Wyoming Whiskey

Wyoming Whiskey named this one for the state's mountain towns, where a powder day usually ends with a drink at the bottom of the hill. It's a riff on the Ramos Gin Fizz, with whiskey in place of the gin plus coffee liqueur and orgeat. A slow pour at the end lifts the foam above the rim, the way a chairlift rises over fresh snow.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 3/4 oz orgeat
• 3/4 oz coffee liqueur
• 1 oz heavy cream
• 1 egg white
• 2 oz soda water
• Dried lemon wheel, to garnish

Method

1. Combine everything except the soda water in a shaker and shake hard without ice.
2. Add ice and shake hard again.
3. Strain into a chilled Collins glass, into the soda water, to the top of the glass.
4. Let the drink sit for one minute, then top with the rest of the cocktail so the foam lifts above the rim.
5. Garnish with the dried lemon wheel.

More at Wyoming Whiskey.

Bourbon Lift With Wild Turkey 101

This recipe and the three after it come from the original version of this article. The Bourbon Lift uses the same orgeat, coffee liqueur, cream, and egg white idea as the Ski Lift in a smaller build, finished with nutmeg.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
• 1/2 oz orgeat syrup
• 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
• 1 oz heavy cream
• 1 egg white
• Splash of soda water
• Grated nutmeg, to garnish

Method

1. Add the first five ingredients to a shaker and shake without ice to emulsify.
2. Add ice and shake again.
3. Strain into a highball glass, top with soda water, and garnish with grated nutmeg.

More at Wild Turkey.

Fig Fling With Wild Turkey 81

A tablespoon of fig jam takes the place of syrup in this shaken drink, with orange liqueur and fresh lemon rounding it out.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon
• 1 tablespoon fig jam
• 1/4 oz orange liqueur
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• Orange peel, to garnish

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
3. Garnish with the orange peel.

Batch Hot Toddy With Wild Turkey 101

This toddy is written in parts, so you can scale it to any size group. Using ounces for the parts makes about 30 ounces, which is plenty for a group watching a bowl game.

Ingredients

• 8 parts Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
• 16 parts hot water
• 3 parts honey
• 3 parts fresh squeezed lemon juice
• Lemon wheel, to garnish

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a heat-resistant batch vessel like a kettle or pot.
2. Keep warm and serve in mugs, garnished with a lemon wheel.

Chai, Spice And Everything Nice With Wild Turkey 81

This one takes some prep, since you'll need cinnamon syrup and sherry infused with chai. Cardamom bitters and grated cinnamon finish it.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon
• 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup
• 3/4 oz chai-infused sherry
• 3/4 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
• Dash of cardamom bitters
• Grated cinnamon and an orange slice, to garnish

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain over ice into a rocks glass.
3. Garnish with grated cinnamon and the orange slice.

How To Pick The Right Winter Whiskey Cocktail For Your Crowd

You don't need to make all 19 of these this winter. Pick one or two that fit the night and the people coming over, and the rest will still be here for the next snowstorm.

Stock A Small Winter Bar

A bottle of bourbon, a bottle of rye, sweet vermouth, Angostura, orange bitters, maple syrup, and honey will cover a good Old Fashioned and a good Manhattan, which are the starting points for many of the drinks here. Buy the amaros, liqueurs, and absinthe one at a time as you try new recipes.

Swap The Whiskey Before You Swap The Recipe

Pour the same Old Fashioned with a wheated bourbon, a high rye bourbon, and a straight rye side by side and see which one you like best. Keep the pours small so the whole group can compare. If you like smoke, the Knob Creek BBQ Old Fashioned is another version to add to the lineup.

Plan The Ride Home Before The First Pour

If the group is staying over at the lodge or the cabin, you're all set. If people are driving home, have plenty of food and coffee out and get everybody's ride figured out before the first pour.

Top Picks

Flow Voyages

Book your next cruise with Heather at Flow Voyages

Flow Voyages is a travel advisor specializing in cruises and resorts.

Contact Flow Voyages

Promoted by FlowAds