Make Your Own Apres
Be your own bartender with these easy cocktails after a long day on the slopes
After a long day on the slopes, most of us look forward to stretching out and warming up by a fire, cocktail in hand. If you’re planning an apres moment for yourself or a crowd, there are a few simple, classic cocktails that are easy to whip up in your own kitchen rather than that pricey ski lodge.
These are the best warm-up drinks to enjoy after a day of skiing.
Aperol Spritz
This is a classic cocktail that’s just as tasty and refreshing in February as it is in August. To make yourself a spritz, grab a large wine glass and add equal parts Aperol and dry Prosecco. Top your glass with sparkling water and add an orange slice or twist for garnish.
Moscow Mule
A mule is a spicy winter warmer–there’s a reason it’s popular in Moscow, after all. To make it, add a shot of vodka and a squeeze of fresh lime juice to an ice-filled copper mug. Fill your cup with ginger beer and add the lime wedge for garnish.
If you prefer a different spirit, swap out vodka for tequila, whiskey, or rum.
Hot Toddy
If the day outside has you chilled to the bone, a hot toddy will warm you from the inside out. It’s made by mixing hot water (boiled in a kettle) with a shot of whiskey, a squeeze of lemon juice, and honey to taste. If you’d like to add a garnish, pop a cinnamon stick in your mug.
Spicy Margarita
For a bit of heat to warm up after a day in the snow, fix yourself and your friends festive spicy margaritas. Start by garnishing your glass: run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip it in salt or tajin.
Next, muddle a few slices of fresh jalapeno in the bottom of a cocktail shaker by pounding them with a muddling tool. If you want less spice, remove the seeds from the pepper first. Then fill the shaker with ice, add a shot of blanco tequila, a half ounce of triple sec (or your favorite orange liqueur), an once of fresh lime juice, and a half ounce of agave syrup. Give everything a good shake, and pour into your salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with another round of jalapeno.
Classic Dirty Martini
A martini is an endlessly riffable cocktail, so feel free to flavor your drink with additional garnishes or flavored liqueurs. But for the simplest take, shake together two ounces of dry gin or vodka, an ounce of dry vermouth, and a dash of bitters in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Pour the mixture into a martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist or olives.
Old Fashioned
If you’re in for a dark and booze-forward whiskey drink, fix yourself an old fashioned. This one starts with a teaspoon of sugar in the bottom of a rocks glass. Add three dashes of Angostura bitters and a splash of water and stir everything together to dissolve the sugar. Then top with two ounces of whiskey (or bourbon), add a large ice cube, and garnish with a twist of orange.
Mulled Wine
This is a cocktail you can brew for several hours, so when you head back in from the slopes you’ll have a cozy sip to cuddle up with on the couch. Plus, your house will be filled with the aroma of cinnamon and cloves.
To make mulled wine, combine a bottle of red wine, about a quarter cup of brandy, and a few spoonfuls of sugar or honey to taste in a slow cooker. Add a sliced orange and a few whole cloves, star anise and cinnamon sticks. Let the mixture cook on low for up to three hours, until the flavors are well developed. Serve up mugfuls and enjoy.
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