Hot drink recipes to beat the winter blues

For those of us facing wintery weather, we thought it was about time we dipped into the Wallpaper* archives to revisit this delicious selection of hot drink recipes. Easy to make and instantly comforting, these winter warmers – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic – are guaranteed to make getting through this dark, chilly season a little more bearable. Warm blackcurrant cordial with a tot of vodka, anyone? Cheers!

Apple warmer

Ingredients: 4cl calvados, 10cl, 3 cloves, 1 tsp clear honey

Method: Put all the ingredients into a saucepan and heat without boiling. Strain into a heatproof glass. 

Milk & honey

Ingredients: 20cl milk, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1-2 tsp clear honey

Method: Place the milk and cinnamon in a saucepan and heat slowly without boiling, whisk the milk if you like to create froth. Alternatively, steam the milk using a cappuccino machine. Pour into a heatproof glass and stir in the honey. 

Whisky toddy 

Ingredients: 6cl whisky, juice of half a lemon, honey to taste, 7cl hot water 

Method: Put the whisky, lemon juice and honey in the glass and top up with the hot water. Stir and serve.

Café royale 

Ingredients: 6cl shot cognac, 2 tsp sugar, strong hot coffee, double cream 

Method: Pour the cognac into a glass, add the sugar, then top up with hot coffee to approximately one-and-a-half inches from the top of the glass. Stir well. 

Black Russian 

Ingredients: 6cl blackcurrant cordial, 5cl vodka, hot water 

Method: Put the cordial and vodka in a glass, top up with hot water and serve.