As the months get colder, it is time to settle in during the evenings and make yourself something to take that cold, bitter edge off. So get a nice fire going and curl up with a nice, cosy drink that is sure to warm you up, both in the body and spirit! 

Manoella Ruby Port Hot Chocolate 

Luxurious & Rich, perfect for getting snug on the sofa with.

The sweet port perfectly balances out the bitter dark chocolate for a sumptuous hot chocolate. 

Serves two - Ingredients:

Wine & Soul Manoella Ruby Port – ½ cup

100g 75% dark chocolate

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

A pinch of salt

 

Method:

In a pan on a low-medium heat the milk and hot chocolate cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla, stirring constantly till the chocolate has melted and the liquid is smooth.

Do not let the milk boil, only light bubbles should be visible

Add in the port and stir in and continue to heat for another minute or so without boiling

Transfer to cups and top with whipped cream and marshmallows if you like

 

Hot whisk(e)y

Winter is cold, fend off the common cold or flu (this is not actual medical advice) with this classic drink, also known as a 'hot toddy'. I’ve got a recipe that you can use with either Scotch or Irish whisk(e)y that will keep you warm.

Perfect for bedtime!

 

Serves two

Ingredients:

(Scotch version) 70ml Talisker 10-year-old single malt

Or

(Irish version) 70ml Shortcross Rye & Malt

1 tsp honey

Juice of ½ lemon

2 lemon wheels

2 sticks of cinnamon

6 cloves

2 star anise

 

Method:

 Preheat 2 heatproof glasses or mugs

 Push 3 cloves into eachlemon wheels

Stir the whiskey of your choice together with the honey

 Drain the glasses of water and pour in the honied whiskey

Add the cinnamon stick, star anise & lemon wheel

 Top both glasses with 100ml each

*A teaspoon or two of sugar can be added for sweetness if you like in place of the honey*

 

Hot Port

Quite similar to the Hot Toddy in its construction but possibly without the need for the added sweetness as the port provides that aspect on its own. You can make it by switching out the whiskey for Quinta De La Rosa LBV Port. 

Ingredients:

 

70ml of Quinta De La Rosa LBV Port

Juice of ½ lemon

2 lemon wheels

2 sticks of cinnamon

6 cloves

2 star anise 

1 tsp honey

 

Mulled Wine

A must have in the Christmas period. Winter in a cup.

Serves 4-

Ingredients:

1 bottle of Bodegas y Vinedos Monfil Garnacha

1 peeled, sliced orange

8 whole cloves

3 sticks of cinnamon

2 star anise

Up to 4 tablespoons of either honey or maple syrup

 

Method:

Combine all of the ingredients in a slow cooker

Cook on low setting for up to 3 hours, a minimum of 30 minutes (avoid the alcohol burning)

Strain out the mixture with a fine mesh, removing the non-liquid ingredients and pour into glasses.

Add a fresh cinnamon stick, orange slice and star anise

Enjoy!

Homemade Irish cream

Irish cream is almost a Christmas tradition for me at this point, so I figured I’d share a way to make your own. Impress guests or give it as a gift! (I would most likely make the bottle disappear in a night, easily)

Method: