6 ways with winter drinks

Few things are more comforting than finishing off a long day of seasonal shopping than relaxing with a hot drink by the fire. We've collected our favourite toasty tipple recipes for you, cheers!

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Hot whiskeys

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Cut 2 thick slices from the centre of a lemon and cut each one in half. Stud each half with 4 whole cloves. In the bottom of each of four glasses or mugs, combine 30ml Irish whiskey with 2 tsp honey/brown sugar. Stir to combine. Fill to the top with boiling water and stir vigorously until the honey/sugar has dissolved. Add the lemon slices and serve.

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Candy cane cocoa

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Place 30g cocoa in a saucepan. Gradually whisk in 950ml milk until the cocoa has dissolved. Add 100g chocolate chips and 3 crushed candy canes and simmer over a medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and candy canes have melted. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Stir in a pinch of salt. Ladle into mugs and garnish each with a candy cane.

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Mulled wine

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Zest 1 orange. Squeeze the juice from one half and slice the other. In a large pan, combine 50g light muscovado sugar, the orange zest, juice and slices, 1 cinnamon stick, a pinch of nutmeg and 150ml water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add ½ x 750ml bottle of red wine and ½ a thickly-sliced apple and bring to a simmer. Pour into glasses and serve.

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Spiced apple warmers

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In a saucepan over a medium-low heat, whisk together 800ml apple juice, 4 cinnamon sticks, ½ tsp ground allspice, ½ tsp ground ginger and a pinch each of ground cloves, nutmeg and salt. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat. Stir in 80ml brandy, if desired. Pour through a sieve into a jug and discard the solids. Serve in mugs and garnish with cinnamon sticks.

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Snowy white hot chocolate

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In a pan over a medium-low heat, stir together 950ml fresh milk, 1 tsp vanilla and 230g chopped white chocolate. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, but do not let it boil. Remove from the heat and divide between mugs. Top with whipped cream or marshmallows if desired and serve immediately.

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Irish egg nog

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In a bowl, whisk 2 eggs, 60ml Irish cream liqueur and 20ml Irish whiskey until smooth. In a saucepan, bring 1l milk to a boil. Pour the milk over the egg mixture, whisking to combine well. Divide between four mugs and sprinkle with nutmeg.