Good Taste : Winter warmers
By Eleni Collins
Published: December 3, 2009
When I think of seasonal and holiday drinks, mulled cider and eggnog come to mind. On their own or garnished with rum, cinnamon, and nutmeg, they're perfect in the winter for après work, ski, or shovel.
Winter beverages at Seasons include Blue Moon Winter Ale (above) and the Mounds Bar (below). Photos by Ralph Stewart Seasons Eatery and Pub in Oak Bluffs invites you to try their winter warmers: the Mounds Bar cocktail, and Ginger Snap Martini. The Mounds Bar ($6) is made with Malibu coconut rum and hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. According to managing partner Mike Santoro, it tastes just like the candy bar. The martini is blended with Captain Morgan rum, ginger brandy, and eggnog, and served with a ginger snap cookie for dipping. Their seasonal beer brews ($5/pint) are Blue Moon Winter Ale, which has hints of caramel and spicy ginger, and Sam Adams Winter Ale, which has hints of orange peel, plum, and vanilla.
At Zapotec, try the Carrot Cake Martini or Peppermint Margarita. Made with butterscotch schnapps and Goldschläger (cinnamon schnapps), the martini ($9.99) is rimmed with crushed graham crackers, and can also be served as a shot. The margarita ($12) is a regular margarita with added cream, peppermint sticks, mint, and other secret ingredients, according to owner Cybele Sprague. And from now through the holidays, take $1 off the price of house margaritas.
One of Park Corner Bistro's winter concoctions is a Hot Apple Pie, made with hot apple cider, tuaca (an Italian liquor made with vanilla and citrus), and topped with fresh whipped cream ($8). They also make hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps such as Rumple Minze, a 100-proof brand from Germany.
And at both Sharky's locations, order the Cranberry Mint Margarita if you're feeling festive. It's green, red, and delicious.
Oyster Bar Grill recently added the Midnight Martini to their drink list. It's made with house-infused blueberry vodka, Stoli vanilla vodka, a squirt of pomegranate puree, splash of pineapple juice, simple syrup, with a Sugar in the Raw rim ($10).
In Edgartown, The Wharf's winter cocktail list includes the Peppermint Chocolate Martini ($9): Irish cream, coffee liquor, vanilla vodka, and peppermint schnapps in a glass swirled with chocolate sauce. Or try the Pumpkin Hot Toddy made with hot water, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, pumpkin spice liqueur, honey, and lemon.
The Newes From America serves hot apple cider with your choice of alcohol, and all kinds of coffee drinks.
Edgartown restaurants such as The Grill on Main, Il Tesoro, Atlantic Fish and Chop House, and Sharky's offer specialty coffees including Irish, Mexican, and Turkish. Irish coffees are most commonly made with Irish whiskey, hot coffee, brown sugar, and heavy cream. Mexican coffee is made with hot coffee, Kahlua, sugar, and whipped cream. Turkish is made with hot coffee, ouzo, sugar, and water.
Lattanzi's also serves coffee drinks, as well as their Hot Toddy: made with your choice of whiskey, hot water, honey, and lemon.
At Henry's Hotel Bar at the Harbor View Hotel, fine warmers such as Menemsha Sweet Milk, and Captain Bailey (both $12). The Menemsha is butterscotch schnapps, Godiva chocolate liquer, and steamed milk. The Captain is Bailey's Irish Crème, Captain Morgan rum, maraschino juice, coffee, and whipped cream.u
Prices are subject to change.
