Hot buttered rum

The perfect sipper for sweater weather

Hot toddies and hot buttered rum are the warming drinks we crave in cool weather—and easier to make than you might think. Matthew Benevoli photo

As the weather shifts from warm to cold and dewy mornings turn frosty, we all look for ways to stay warm and cozy. Sometimes we grab a sweater or fuzzy blanket, but this year why not try hot buttered rum?

I normally gravitate towards drinks in my comfort zone, like a hot toddy, mulled wine or hot apple cider; however, it’s fun to branch out, venture into new territory and explore other options. Often associated with the winter holidays, hot buttered rum can easily be enjoyed throughout the year. Its blend of baking spices, brown sugar, vanilla, hot water, rum and (you guessed it) butter creates a rich, velvety and whimsical cocktail to warm you to the core and bring a smile to your face.

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Hot Toddy

Hot Toddy. Matthew Benevoli photo

According to cocktail historian David Wondrich: “The hot toddy was the original way single-malt scotches were consumed as they were considered to be ‘lesser quality’ whisky in contrast to the art of blended scotch.”

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Kyoto Collins

Kyoto Collins. Matthew Benevoli recipe

This refreshing long drink uses a soda made with fragrant white tea. White teas are harvested from the youngest, most tender buds and leaves of the tea plant, and very lightly processed, resulting in a delicate, often floral flavour.

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Idol Meets Impostor

Idol Meets Impostor. Matthew Benevoli photo

This twist on a classic Old Fashioned gets an appealing smoky note from the ice cube made with Lapsang Souchong, a Chinese black tea whose leaves are dried over burning pinewood for a rich, bold and earthy flavour with subtle bonfire notes.

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Tea time

Discover a world of flavour in a cuppa

Tea is a classic component of mixed drinks, especially punches, and has almost infinite uses in cocktails. Matthew Benevoli photo

Tea is one of the world’s most common beverages—second only to water in terms of the amount consumed—yet it’s often overlooked as a cocktail ingredient. And that’s too bad, because it’s far more versatile, accessible and fun to experiment with than you may think.

With a wide range of black, green, white and herbal teas available, you can find almost any flavour profile you’re looking for, from a fruity herbal tea ideal for a fizzy and refreshing highball to a bitter, dry and tannic over-steeped green tea that makes a substitute for dry vermouth in a Martini. Looking for something more exotic? Enter Lapsang Souchong. Often referred to as “the scotch of teas,” its leaves have been dried above a pinewood fire, giving it savoury and smoky characteristics akin to Islay-made whisky.

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Preston

Preston cocktail

The cherry garnish complements the tannic note of this original cocktail by Matthew Benevoli.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz bourbon (such as Basil Hayden)

1 oz Japanese plum liqueur

0.5 oz cherry liqueur (from canning)

2 oz steeped and chilled Earl Grey tea

Optional: a dash of lemon juice

Garnish: Boozy Cocktail Cherries

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Last word

Last Word cocktail

Boozy cocktail cherries add a personal note to this herbaceous classic.

Ingredients:

0.75 oz London Dry Style Gin (such as Sipsmith)

0.75 oz green Chartreuse

0.75 oz maraschino cherry liqueur

0.75 oz lime juice

Garnish: Boozy Cocktail Cherry

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The cherry on top

These garnishes add a grace note to cocktails—and make an excellent gift, too

While fresh cherries are best, frozen will work just fine to create a complex and just-boozy-enough garnish. Matthew Benevoli photos

Garnishes can be beautiful, vibrant, eye-catching additions to what we eat and drink. The more appealing, the more they add to our enjoyment. Though usually small in size, garnishes can have a large impact on our overall experience; just because they’re small doesn’t mean they’re not integral to the flavours and finish.

Enter the cocktail cherry.

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