5 Smokin' Cocktails For Cold Weather

These five smokin' drinks will warm you right up, and we promise there's no kindling required!
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Since the discovery of fire, man has enjoyed the flavor smoke imparts to meat and hearty vegetables. But how can you enjoy that rich, woodsy taste all winter long—without hauling wood? Make a drink, of course!

While Scotch is often sipped solo, it's also the perfect ingredient to add a hint of smoke to a cocktail. Just a bit of, say, a peaty Islay whisky can add a whole new dimension to a tipple.

So try one of these five smokin' drinks—they'll warm you right up, and we promise there's no kindling required!

5 Smokin' Cocktails for Cold Weather
Rusty Compass(01 of05)
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A twist on the classic Rusty Nail, this tipple is a simple way to enjoy the smoky flavors of Scotch. It combines Drambuie—itself a mix of spices, herbs, Scottish heather honey and whisky—with a bit of Cherry Heering liqueur and a wonderfully peaty blended whisky. It's so good, it just may be your new go-to-cocktail!

View recipe: Rusty Compass
The Bee Sting(02 of05)
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Don't worry; the only thing that this tasty sipper packs is smoke. Laphroaig, among the peatiest single malt Scotches out there, is mixed with a rich honey liqueur, bartender favorite Fernet-Branca, egg white, fresh tangerine juice and a few drops of Peychaud's Bitters. It's an eclectic combination of flavors that your taste buds will never forget.

View recipe: The Bee Sting
Holy Smokes(03 of05)
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A mixture of rich and enticing flavors, this delicious libation will have you after just a sip. George Dickel Tennessee Whisky provides a strong base for the combination of herbal liqueurs and a couple dashes of chocolate bitters. And a teaspoon of Scotch, of course, adds a hint of campfire.

View recipe: Holy Smokes
Whisky Skin(04 of05)
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Liquor.com advisory board member and cocktail historian David Wondrich shared with us his favorite cold-weather sipper, a version of the Hot Toddy that calls for Scotch. (Wondrich suggests Macallan, or "if insane or very cold," Ardbeg.) It’s the perfect recipe for a frigid evening.

View recipe: Whisky Skin
Perfect Pearl Manhattan(05 of05)
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This delightful Manhattan variation would make even the most discerning of Scotch lovers proud. After rinsing a glass with Lagavulin, one of the burliest single malts on the planet, stir together a sweeter combination of Bulleit Bourbon and both dry and sweet vermouths. The Scotch adds depth, and a few drops of orange bitters finish this smoky tipple off nicely.

View recipe: Perfect Pearl Manhattan

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