Glühwein
The classic German mulled wine - red wine gently warmed with orange, cinnamon and clove. The defining drink of the Christmas market.
An editorial guide to winter drinks
Warm cocktails, Christmas drinks, apple-and-spice serves, après-ski favourites and modern winter cocktail ideas.
Editor’s picks
The classic German mulled wine - red wine gently warmed with orange, cinnamon and clove. The defining drink of the Christmas market.
How to serve Hot Apple Gin - the warm gin-based apple & spice drink. Stemmed glass, gentle warmth, apple, cinnamon. Plus the moments and occasions where it lands best.
The classic warm whisky cocktail with honey, lemon and spice - soothing, simple and built for cold nights.
Warm & comforting
The rich Dutch egg liqueur, gently whisked with brandy and vanilla until thick and custardy, served warm in a small glass with a dusting of cocoa.
A Scandinavian-style alcohol-free glögg of grape and blackcurrant juice, warmed with cardamom, cinnamon and clove, served with raisins and almonds.
The soothing classic, without the whisky - strong tea with honey, lemon and warm spice. Comfort in a mug for cold nights and scratchy throats.
Festive
A proper homemade eggnog without the booze - egg yolks, sugar, milk and double cream gently cooked into a thick, vanilla-and-nutmeg custard.
All the spice and warmth of a proper mulled wine, built on red grape juice and strong hibiscus tea - fragrant, deep red and perfect for sharing.
A warming Alpine punch of dark rum and strong black tea, brightened with citrus and gentle spice - a classic of Austria's Christmas markets.
Spirit-forward
A seasonal Negroni built on gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, lifted with a generous splash of fresh blood orange juice and a long orange peel.
A bright, aromatic fizz built with gin, fresh lemon and homemade cardamom syrup, topped with soda for a lightly warming, perfumed winter highball.
A bright green herbaceous gin cocktail with rosemary, lime and a splash of soda, designed to taste as fresh as a forest in winter.
Orchard & spice
Cloudy apple juice slow-warmed with orange, ginger and a full pot of winter spices - a fragrant, family-friendly mug for cold evenings.
A mellow hot toddy built on apple brandy, with honey, fresh lemon and hot water, infused with a cinnamon stick and a slice of crisp apple.
A traditional English wassail of warm ale and cider with roasted apples, a splash of sherry and gentle spice - the very drink of midwinter celebration.
Beyond mulled wine
The Dutch bishop's wine, a gently spiced mulled red traditionally warmed with a clove-studded orange, cinnamon and star anise for a fragrant festive glass.
A warming Danish glögg with red wine, akvavit, brown sugar and warm spices, finished with raisins and blanched almonds.
A dramatic German mulled wine where a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set alight, dripping caramelised rum into spiced red wine below.
Alcohol-free
A long, refreshing alcohol-free cooler that pairs cloudy apple juice with cinnamon syrup and a lift of soda.
How to serve Hot Apple Gin 0.0 - the 0.0% twin of the original, built from the same long search for a properly balanced warm apple & spice serve, without the alcohol.
Cloudy apple juice steeped with fresh ginger, lemon and cinnamon, sweetened with honey for a warming, alcohol-free winter drink.
Read & learn
Gin isn't just for summer. From warm gin-and-apple serves to spiced cold cocktails, here are the gin drinks that come into their own in winter.
Love the ritual of mulled wine but want something different? These glühwein alternatives are lighter, brighter or simply new - without losing the warmth.
Steaming, spiced and comforting - the best warm cocktails for winter, plus the simple technique that keeps every warm drink tasting its best.
Featured modern winter serve
Hot Apple Gin is a warm gin-based apple & spice drink, served gently heated with an apple slice and a pinch of cinnamon — a contemporary alternative to mulled wine and glühwein.
Discover Hot Apple Gin