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Best Winter Cocktail Recipes That You Must Try

It may be chilly outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy chilling inside.

26 Aug 2022

When the chilling winds of winter arrive, don’t let the dreary weather put you in a seasonal slump. Instead, lift your spirits by making these stunning cocktail recipes for your nearest and dearest - guaranteed to get y’all feeling warm and cosy in no time.


Gin Sour Cocktail

With notes of pine, juniper, citrus, and warming spices, gin is perfect for cold-weather-inspired cocktails. A classic Gin Sour combines a great quality gin with fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and an egg white to produce a wonderfully balanced, frothy and thick cocktail that makes for a comforting winter treat.

We suggest you step up the winter-warming flavours even further with Tempus Two Copper Wild Botanical Gin. Made from a base spirit of premium Shiraz wine and infused with Australian bush botanicals of desert lime, orange peel, salt bush and wattle seed, it’s the perfect ingredient to make a delicious Gin Sour.

Gin Sour Ingredients

  • 60ml Tempus Two Copper Wild Botanical Gin
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon simple sugar syrup
  • 1 egg white
  • Ice cubes to fill cocktail shaker
  • Angostura bitters to garnish

 

How to make a Gin Sour

  • Add the gin, lemon juice, syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker without ice.
  • Shake for 15 seconds.
  • Add the ice to the cocktail shaker.
  • Shake again for 30 seconds.
  • Strain the mix into an old-fashioned glass; the foam will collect at the top.
  • Garnish with a few drops of bitters swirled into foam.

 

Bees Knees Cocktail

Hailing from the Prohibition era in the 1920s, the Bees Knees is a sunny-coloured, brightly flavoured and delightfully sweet cocktail. It’s a simple extension of the Gin Sour but features rich and soothing honey instead of sugar - making it the perfect drink to sip on during winter.

To enhance this classic cocktail's light and elegant citrus flavours, we recommend using our Tempus Two Copper Prosecco Gin as the star ingredient.

 

Bees Knees Ingredients 

  • 60ml Tempus Two Copper Prosecco Gin
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey syrup (equal parts honey combined with warm water)
  • Ice cubes to fill cocktail shaker Lemon twist to garnish 

 

How to make a Bees Knees Cocktail

  • Add the gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Shake well and strain into a chilled coupe glass.
  • Garnish with the lemon twist.

 

Greyhound Cocktail

This delicious, lip-smackingly tart cocktail was a popular beverage served at restaurants owned by the Greyhound bus line in the 1930s - hence the name. Made with gin, fresh, tangy grapefruit, and classically served with an earthy rosemary sprig, it’s an excellent palate-cleanser after a rich and hearty winter dinner.

 

Greyhound Cocktail Ingredients                                                                                                                

  • 30ml Tempus Two Copper Wild Botanical Gin
  • 2 tablespoons grapefruit juice
  • 1 teaspoon simple sugar syrup (optional)
  • Ice cubes to half-fill cocktail shaker
  • Grapefruit wedge and rosemary sprig to garnish

 

How to make a Greyhound

  • Cocktail Add the gin, grapefruit juice and syrup (if using) to a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Shake well and pour liquid and ice into a highball glass.
  • Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and rosemary sprig.

 

Winter Reviver Cocktail

This is another winter cocktail recipe that leans into the piney, earthy flavours of rosemary. Served at room temperature, it's traditionally made with Cabernet Sauvignon that is enhanced by the addition of rosemary, honey, lemon and cherry juice.

With powerful aromas of blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and spiced plum, combined with subtle notes of spice and vanilla, our 2021 Tempus Two Pewter Cabernet Sauvignon makes the ultimate Winter Reviver cocktail. Or for a version that’s lighter on the alcohol content, our Tempus Two Lighten Up Cabernet Sauvignon is also a fantastic choice.

 

Winter Reviver Cocktail Ingredients

  • 80ml 2021 Tempus Two Pewter Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 2 tablespoons rosemary honey syrup (cooking instructions below)
  • 1 tablespoon cherry or cranberry juice
  • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 3-4 rosemary sprigs
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 cup of honey (to make syrup)
  • Extra rosemary spring and powdered sugar for garnish

 

How to make a Winter Reviver Cocktail

To make rosemary syrup:

  • Add water and rosemary sprigs to a saucepan and simmer on medium heat for 5-7 minutes. Add honey to the saucepan. Stir the mixture until the honey has dissolved and the liquid is syrupy. Set aside and use when the syrup reaches room temperature.

 

Cocktail assembly:

  • Wet the rim of a rocks glass with water and roll in powdered sugar.
  • Add all the cocktail ingredients straight into the glass and stir gently.
  • Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig.

 

Communard Cocktail

Also known as a ‘Cardinal’, the Communard wine cocktail is a French apéritif from Burgundy, France. As the wine is combined with a thick and delicious blackcurrant liqueur, it's best to complement the flavours with a light-bodied and unoaked red wine varietal like a Pinot Noir or Gamay.

For this recipe, we recommend using either our 2021 Tempus Two Copper Pinot Noir or 2020 Tempus Two Copper Gamay.

 

Communard Cocktail Ingredients

  • 150ml 2021 Tempus Two Copper Pinot Noir
  • 40ml Crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)
  • Blackberries, raspberries or blueberries to garnish (2-3 per glass)

How to make a Communard Cocktail

  • Chill the wine, liqueur, and a Champagne flute.
  • Pour the wine and liqueur into the chilled flute and stir gently.
  • Garnish with berries, either on the rim of the glass or on a cocktail skewer.

 

White Mulled Wine

An aromatic and warming white mulled wine has the flavourful depth of the classic red version but is lighter in body. It’s best to use a medium-bodied white wine; anything that is too acidic or dry can develop a harsh edge when heated.

Our pick for the best white to use in this recipe is our crisp and vibrant 2023 Tempus Two Copper Pinot Grigio. To make a big pot of white mulled wine that can be enjoyed by all your guests, regardless of age or lifestyle choice, Tempus Two Zero Pinot Grigio is a fantastic alcohol-free alternative.

 

White Mulled Wine Ingredients

 

How to make White Mulled Wine

  • Combine all the ingredients in a heavy-based saucepan and bring to medium heat.
  • Simmer for 15mins, occasionally stirring to dissolve the sugar.
  • With a slotted spoon, sieve out the spices and orange slices and set aside for garnish.
  • Use a ladle to pour the warm mulled wine into a heatproof glass or mug.
  • Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks and star anise into the mug as a garnish.

 

It may be chilly outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy chilling inside. Tempus Two has what you need to make your warming tipple of choice this winter.