Paul Kushner
I always lean towards winter whiskey cocktails to warm up the chilliest days. Their rich flavors blend perfectly with the season’s spices and fruits, creating comforting sips that feel like a warm hug. I love how versatile whiskey is, from a smooth Hot Toddy to a vibrant Bourbon Smash, offering something for every taste. Each recipe in this roundup has been crafted with care, ensuring a perfect balance of warmth, comfort, and whiskey’s distinctive richness. I highly recommend exploring these winter whiskey cocktails for a cozy night in or to impress at gatherings.
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1
Winter Sazerac
The Winter Sazerac is a seasonal twist on the classic cocktail, featuring nutmeg-infused whisky for a cozy, spiced depth. Paired with Cognac, bitters, and a touch of absinthe, this cocktail is elegant yet warming—a perfect choice for winter evenings by the fire or a holiday gathering.
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2
Winter Spice Old Fashioned
The Winter Spice Old Fashioned is a bold, complex drink with warm winter spices and bittersweet notes. The combination of bourbon, Cynar, and a spiced simple syrup gives this cocktail a robust, festive flavor reminiscent of gingerbread. A garnish of star anise adds an aromatic touch, making it a perfect drink for cozy winter nights.
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3
Cranberry Whiskey Sour
The Cranberry Whiskey Sour is a festive twist on the classic whiskey sour, blending the tartness of cranberry juice with the bright citrus of lemon. This cocktail is both refreshing and balanced, making it perfect for holiday gatherings or anytime you want a flavorful whiskey-based drink.
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4
Fireball Eggnog
The Fireball Eggnog is a spiced, creamy cocktail that brings a fiery twist to traditional eggnog. With the warmth of Fireball cinnamon whiskey and a hint of vanilla from the vodka, this drink is festive, comforting, and perfect for holiday gatherings. The cinnamon sugar rim adds a touch of sweetness and extra spice.
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5
Apple Cinnamon Whiskey Smash
The Apple Cinnamon Whiskey Smash is a cozy, autumnal cocktail that brings together the warmth of whiskey, the sweetness of apple cider, and the spice of cinnamon. Fresh apple and mint add a refreshing twist to this seasonal favorite, making it a perfect choice for a crisp evening.
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6
Pine Old Fashioned
Bring the outdoors into your glass with this Pine Old Fashioned. Featuring a unique pine-infused simple syrup, this cocktail offers a refreshing twist on the classic Old Fashioned. Perfect for winter evenings or any time you’re craving a woodsy, aromatic drink.
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7
thewholesmiths.com
Gingerbread Whiskey Sour
Get in the festive holiday spirit with a Gingerbread Whiskey Sour. You can impress your friends with this fancy and easy-to-make cocktail. All it takes is a vigorous shake of bourbon, lime juice, Gingerbread simple syrup, and an egg white. Top it off with the winter spices – ginger and cinnamon for that warm, winter vibe.
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8
onebroadsjourney.com
Honey Winter Bourbon Cocktail
Honey Winter Bourbon Cocktail has the citrus and earthy flavors we crave during winter days. The honey sage syrup makes this cocktail a bit more time-consuming and complex to concoct but it is worth the work. After the syrup is made, the final steps are simple – add it to your bourbon and twist an orange peel over the glass.
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9
wetwhistledrinks.com
Caramel Apple Whiskey Toddy
A hot toddy is perfect for a winter day. Caramel Apple Whiskey Toddy keeps you warm with the cozy flavors of caramel, cinnamon, and apple. A bonus to making this cocktail is the scent of apple cinnamon filling your home while boiling the brew for your hot toddy.
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10
bbcgoodfood.com
Winter Whiskey Sour
Bring out the gold and get fancy with a Winter Whiskey Sour. Edible gold glitter puts a spin on the classic bourbon cocktail. A shake of bourbon, lemon and orange juice, sugar syrup, and a brush of honey and gold glitter on the rim makes this cocktail festive and fun for holiday parties.
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11
cookieandkate.com
Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
The warming flavors of cinnamon and maple syrup make a classic whiskey sour into a great winter cocktail. Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour is a concoction of whiskey with lemon juice sweetened with maple syrup and a hint of cinnamon. It’s warm, sweet, and sour and can easily be made for more.
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12
wineandcountrylife.com
Micah’s Hot Toddy
You can fight off a cold with Micah’s Hot Toddy. The fresh cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, lemon, and honey warmed with bourbon or rye soothes our bodies from the winter blues. This hot toddy is a perfect balance of sweet and tart with spices that keep us healthy.
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13
themarblekitchen.com
Winter Old Fashioned
Rosemary, maple syrup, and cinnamon put a winter spin on the classic Old Fashion. The winter spices with bourbon and bitters turn a classic into a seasonal favorite. You don’t need a high-end bourbon to make a Winter Old Fashion, so go ahead and grab your favorite bourbon for this one.
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14
acouplecooks.com
Bourbon Hot Toddy
Add a kick of whiskey to your tea with Bourbon Hot Toddy. This cocktail will warm you on a cold, winter day and is easy to make. All it takes is a hot brew poured over a shot of Bourbon whiskey. Lemon, spices, and honey sweeten and spice up the hot cocktail.
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15
The Boulevardier Cocktail
If you’re a fan of Negronis, you’ll love The Boulevardier. It is a simple swap of gin for whiskey with Campari and sweet vermouth. The spices, herbs, and botanicals of sweet vermouth, and the infusion of herbs and fruit in Campari makes it bitter and sweet. Bourbon keeps it sweet, and rye whiskey adds a spicy touch.
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16
eatingwell.com
Winter Honey Whiskey Cocktail
If you are feeling under the weather and love a hot toddy, a Winter Honey Whiskey Cocktail is the perfect cocktail for you. The ginger in this cocktail gives a spicy and healthy kick to the traditional hot toddy. The hot brew with bourbon or whiskey is soothing to the body.
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17
julieblanner.com
Bourbon Smash Cocktail
Bourbon Smash Cocktail is a seasonal twist to the classic summer Whiskey Smash cocktail. Cinnamon and lemon give this cocktail winter vibes. The flavors of bourbon, club soda, lemon, and cinnamon are powerful, but the berries, simple syrup, and herbs sweeten the rich flavors of this winter cocktail.
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18
totalwine.com
Winter Wheated Whiskey Sour
There are many variations to a whiskey sour. McFarlane’s Reserve Wheated Bourbon, crème de cassis, Forest d’Orange liqueur, simple syrup, and lemon juice make the uniquely flavored Winter Wheated Whiskey Sour. The cocktail is tart like most whiskey sours, but it is also sweet, citrusy, and fruity.
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19
yummly.com
Winter Orange Whiskey Cocktail
Oranges are one of the best fruits of winter. A speedy blend of fresh orange juice, Grand Marnier Liqueur, sweet whiskey, vanilla extract, egg white, and ice makes a citrusy, frothy drink in no time. With only seven ingredients and five minutes of your time, you can make a Winter Orange Whiskey Cocktail.
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20
feastingathome.com
A Long Winter’s Nap
Dark and cold days call for a Long Winter’s Nap. An infusion of ginger, cardamom, star anise, maple syrup, fir, and lemon juice craft the warm, relaxing cocktail. The longer you brew the infusion, the more intense the flavor can be. The batch is easy to brew for a party of two or twenty.
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21
twosisterslivinglife.com
Spiced Winter Blizzard
Spiced Winter Blizzard keeps it simple, sweet, and flavorful with Jack Daniels Whiskey honey, apple juice, and tangerine juice. The sweet drink is topped off with warm spices and garnished with a slice of apple, tangerine zest, and star anise that give it the winter feels.
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22
gastronomblog.com
Winter Rye Sour Cocktail
Winter Rye Sour Cocktail is full of complex flavors. Buttered brown sugar syrup, allspice, and Cynar bring out the warm flavors of this tasty cocktail. You’ll need Rye whiskey and angostura bitters to complete this take on a classic egg white whiskey sour.
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23
frdistilling.com
Winter Whiskey Sour
Winter Spiced Simple Syrup has cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and star anise flavor that give a Winter Whiskey Sour the seasonal winter feel to a traditional whiskey sour. This cocktail brings out your artistic side when you drop the bitters in a pattern to create a pretty design.
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24
thechunkychef.com
Cranberry Orange Whiskey Cocktail
Winter flavors are the highlight of the Cranberry Orange Whiskey Cocktail. The cranberry and orange fruits are a perfect winter blend of sweet and sour. The concoction is poured over frozen cranberries and topped off with a ginger beer that adds a vibrant flavor to the cocktail.
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25
imbored-letsgo.com
Whiskey Fig Martini
Figs and whiskey are the perfect combinations for a winter cocktail. A Whisky Fig Martini only requires a few ingredients and is simple to make. All it takes is a shake of fig preserves, lemon juice, honey, and thyme with your favorite whiskey.
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