There’s every chance that you’re feeling under the weather, or going to feel under the weather during this monsoon. If your motivation to drink during such times has taken a hit, you’ve landed at just the right place. Here are 5 monsoon cocktails you can make at home, and drink to embrace the season.
Sangria
Sometimes, it’s important to state the obvious because the obvious is usually very, very simple; and we love complicating our lives. Grab a bottle of red or white wine, some cognac brandy, squeeze two lemons to make your kind of lemon juice, and add all the ingredients into a pitcher with finely chopped fruits (typically apples). Voila – your saviour is born! Pour your sangria into a wine glass before garnishing it with a thinly sliced orange peel firmly pushed into the rim of your glass.
What do you need:
1 lemon
1 ½ cups of wine
750 ml Cognac Brandy
½ cup Sugar
1 apple
The Classic Hot Toddy
This is one of those monsoon cocktails that won’t just momentarily make you feel better if you’re running cold, but it can lift your spirits in more ways than one. Depending on what you prefer, pour whiskey, brandy, or rum into a warm mixture of lemon juice, a cup of hot water, and a tablespoon of honey. Your cure is ready! If you’re not satisfied yet, you can garnish this with lemon or a cinnamon stick.
What do you need:
2 tablespoons bourbon/ rum/ brandy
1 tablespoon mild honey
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup boiling-hot water
Cinnamon stick
Honey Bourbon Toddy
This soothing mixture of honey, bourbon whisky, and cinnamon is what dreams are made of if you’re battling a sore throat. Mix honey with water until the honey nicely dissolves to form a smooth concoction. Pour your choice of bourbon whiskey into this and we’re not kidding when we say, that’s pretty much it. Decorate it with a peel of lemon if you may.
What do you need:
1 tablespoon of honey
3 tablespoons bourbon
A strip of lemon peel
1 cinnamon stick
Spiced Screwdriver
The point of including the Spiced Screwdriver in this list is that it is extremely easy to concoct, even when you’re feeling down and out because of an irritating cold. All you need is vodka, orange juice, and a fresh cinnamon stick that acts as the primary catalyst to keep your cold at bay, while you enjoy this delicious mixture.
What you need:
2 cups orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
½ cup Vodka
Negroni With A Twist
The Negroni is a cult drink, but this gin-based cocktail can be tweaked to give you just the right feels you’re craving for this Monsoon. While typically, the Negroni has Campari as an important component, the drink can be tweaked with Aperol instead, together with the regulars – gin and sweet vermouth. While Aperol and Campari are not very different from each other, the former has an edge in terms of its perfect combination of herbs and roots, helping you battle the dicy weather.
What you need:
6 teaspoons Aperol
6 teaspoons Gin
6 teaspoons Sweet vermouth
Half orange peel
FAQs
What Alcohol Makes The Best Hot Toddy?
Bourbon whiskey doesn’t overpower the other flavors in the Hot Toddy which is why it’s a go-to choice to make Hot Toddy.
What Alcohol Goes In Hot Buttered Rum?
Spiced rum or dark rum is a key ingredient for Hot Buttered Rum. Other ingredients along with this alcohol are honey, butter, and hot water.
What Is The Difference Between Hot Buttered Rum And A Hot Toddy?
Hot Buttered Rum is made with spiced or dark rum, honey, butter, and hot water. Hot Toddy, on the other hand, is made with whiskey instead of rum and other ingredients like lemon, honey, and cloves. So, both these drinks are different when it comes to their taste and the kind of ingredients used. However, both can be enjoyed especially during winter.
Do Hot Cocktails Exist?
Yes, hot cocktails do exist. Just like cocktails are consumed chilled or at room temperature, some cocktails are consumed hot.
Which Alcohol Should I Start Drinking With?
It is recommended that you should start having alcohol that has a low ABV or Alcohol-By-Volume. It denotes the level of ethanol (alcohol) in the drink. Baileys Irish Cream, beer, and wine are some spirits that have low ABV.
What’s The Difference Between An Americano And A Negroni?
While both the drinks use Campari and sweet vermouth in equal proportions, the Negroni does not use soda in it, and instead goes with gin.
