When the Weather Outside is Frightful...
Warm cocktails can make it delightful! With cold weather on the horizon, we went on the hunt for something to warm us up. We were pleasantly surprised to find several spots that offered delicious warm cocktails. Cheers!
William Oliver’s Publick House
201 N. Public Rd, Lafayette, CO
Drink: Spiked Irish Hot Chocolate
We loved everything about this drink! The presentation was adorable, but the best part was the Tullamore D.E.W. Infused whipped cream. The drink was sweet but not too much to overpower the flavor of the whiskey. William Oliver’s has an entire winter cocktail menu made up of 11 drinks, 2 of which are warm drinks. They are known for their wide array of whiskeys but they also carry all types of liquor local to Colorado. We didn’t try any food while we were there, but we took a peak at their menu and it looked delicious! They have a self proclaimed bacon-centric menu, with bacon being the common theme throughout their dishes (and some cocktails!). They also have vegetarian options, so don’t let that discourage you if you aren’t a bacon and whiskey lover!
Altitude Spirits
2805 Wilderness Place, Suite 200, Boulder, CO
Drink: Hot Buttered Papagayo
Altitude Spirits is definitely a hidden gem. We tried multiple cocktails off of their December menu (the cocktail list is updated monthly!) including: the Hot Buttered Papagayo, the Christmas Creamsicle, and the Scarborough Fair. The first was the only warm drink on the menu and it was delicious! Rum, house-made spiced butter, and cinnamon mix together perfectly for a drink that makes you want to curl up next to a fireplace. The other drinks were delicious too and more on the refreshing side. We sat at the bar and spoke with the bartender (who was also a distiller) who he gave us a fabulous tasting of their liquors and answered all of our questions. Altitude imports organic spirits from all over the world and there is a story behind each. We really had a customized experience and highly recommend giving it a try!
West End Tavern
926 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO
Drink: Hot Toddy
This hot toddy scores A+ for presentation. It came with a full stick of cinnamon, lemon wedge, and star anise. As far as flavor goes, it's your typical hot toddy. West End Tavern is known for their extensive whiskey selection, so if you’re going to get a hot toddy, this is the place to do it. When in Rome, right? We loved their cozy pub vibe. They are a whiskey bar with a BBQ menu, but really there’s something for everyone. They even have an enclosed rooftop area with a little more of a casual vibe if that’s what you’re going for. They have an excellent happy hour Mon-Fri 3PM – 6PM and a late night happy hour Thurs–Sat 10PM – 11PM. We recommend getting the picnic eggs and the chicken and waffle.
https://www.thewestendtavern.com/
The Dushanbe Teahouse
1770 13th Street Boulder, CO 80302
Drink(s): Mulled Moon Spiced Wine and Them Apples.
The Dushanbe Teahouse is a Boulder staple, located in the heart of downtown nestled against the Boulder Creek. We have passed by the teahouse several times on trips to the Farmer’s market, and surprisingly never actually went inside. First of all, the building is absolutely beautiful and has a very unique history. The teahouse was shipped in pieces to Boulder from our sister city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. We went in specifically to try their hot drink selection and had such a fabulous experience.
The Mulled Moon Spiced Wine was akin to a warm sangria, with notes of cinnamon and a tart finish. This drink was super unique in both flavor and ingredients; consisting of dark red wine and black tea. Plated with lemon and brown sugar cubes if you prefer a sweeter drink, but we thought it was great even without the added sugar.
Them Apples was our favorite in terms of presentation, the golden color of the drink and whipped cream topping looked like liquid butterscotch (see above). Tequila based with spiced apple cider, this drink was sweet and aromatic! Definitely one of our top favorites of the drinks we sampled.
We would go back for these drinks alone, but the waitress recommended their brunch so we’ll be back to the Dushanbe sooner rather than later!