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Nothing can beat the great feeling a warm beverage can give you. As the weather gets colder, it’s time for bars and restaurants to add more hot holiday drinks to their beverage menus. From specialty coffee and matcha teas to spiked cider - there are many great options to choose from.
Improve the customer experience in your restaurant by experimenting with different holiday drinks this season. We already covered the creation of signature holiday cocktails and the various holiday mocktails to serve. We even told all about eggnog and its fascinating history!
Although some of the seasonal drinks we have covered already are consumed hot or have a hot version, here waa want to focus more on the drinks that warm the hands and hearts of people. We will give you a list of amazing offers that will fit nicely into your menu. However, feel free to choose only the ones that will work best for your business!
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Delicious Hot Holiday Drinks to Serve at Your Restaurant
In the list we have prepared, you will see a lot of familiar drinks. But this doesn’t mean that your offers will be boring. There are different ways to spice things up by using literal spices or cocktail garnish. Choosing to serve the hot holiday drinks in unique glassware can significantly change the experience for the customers.
The majority of people who enjoy going out to eat are ones who value a good presentation. They are the generations that notice interior design but also look for good flavors and unique styling of their food and drinks. To win these customers, you should not shy away from styling your drinks in an unexpected way.
So what hot holiday drinks can you serve in the upcoming weeks? Here is our comprehensive list.
Key Takeaway: There is a wide variety of hot holiday drinks you can offer at your bar or restaurant. You can experiment with different garnish options, as well as glassware to make the drinks appear more unique. However, you can always experiment and create your own unique combinations that will make customers come back for more!
1. Hot Chocolate
Who doesn’t love a nice big cup of hot chocolate? There could be a few people that don’t like it but the majority adores it! And the best part is that there are many varieties of hot chocolate you can make. The varieties include:
- Classic hot chocolate
- Peppermint hot chocolate
- Spicy Mexican hot chocolate
- Orange hot chocolate
- Salted caramel hot chocolate
- Nutella hot chocolate
- White hot chocolate
- Raspberry hot chocolate
- Coconut hot chocolate
- Mocha hot chocolate
You can garnish your hot chocolate with any of the following:
- Whipped cream
- Candy cane sticks or crushed candy canes
- Chocolate drizzle
- Crushed cookies
- Sprinkles
- Chopped nuts
- Mini marshmallows
- Cinnamon sticks
2. Mulled Wine
Although you probably have a long wine list filled with different varieties of wine (even holiday wines), once the weather gets cold, mulled wine is a must. This iconic winter drink is made with red wine and it is infused with spices like cloves and cinnamon. Orange zest also adds great flavor to the mulled wine.
3. Hot Toddy
Hot Toddy is another well-known beverage, which you can make more enticing and unique with glassware and garnishing. It’s made with hot water, whiskey or bourbon as a base. Then, you add honey and lemon juice. Finish it off with clove and a cinnamon stick.
4. Eggnog Latte
A great way to include eggnog in your hot holiday drinks is by turning it into a latte. It’s an amazing festive combination of eggnog, espresso, and steamed milk. This aromatic drink is topped of with a sprinkle of nutmeg. It will quickly become the new favorite of all the eggnog and lattes lovers!
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5. Chai Tea Latte
Chai tea latte became famous in the last few years and it’s now a permanent offer is some coffee shops. Bring it to your restaurant this holiday season if you haven’t already because everyone loves good hot holiday drinks! To make it, you need black tea and warm milk, as well as a blend of chai spices. This blend usually includes cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon.
6. Cider Wassail
Hot spiked cider is a must-have drink when the temperatures start to drop. To make this drink, Cider Wassail, you need hot apple cider and mixed spices. The spices can be cinnamon and cloves and you can also add orange juice or slices of orange. Just imagine all of these festive flavors together - delicious!
7. Buttered Rum
This rum beverage is another one you can’t miss! It’s a mixture of hot water with rum, butter, and brown sugar. The drink is topped with a sprinkle of nutmeg. It’s a great alternative for all the rum lovers who are also looking for something warm and comforting.
8. Gingerbread Latte
One of the many great things about lattes is that they can be made seasonal very easily. And all of their variations are delicious! A type of latte you can’t go wrong with during the holiday season is gingerbread latte. The gingerbread, molasses, and cinnamon flavors make it perfect for this time of year.
9. Coquito
If you want to make your hot holiday drinks menu unique, you should add Coquito to it. This is a Puerto Rican holiday drink that is very similar to the eggnog. It is, however, made with coconut milk, and it’s sweetened with condensed milk, rum, and spices. This take on the eggnog will appeal to more people, especially the ones who love coconut milk and more tropical flavors.
You can, of course, come up with your own hot holiday drinks this winter season. Experiment with different flavors and don’t shy away from spiking some common drinks like coffee and tea. You can always ask a mixologist for help if you want to have a drink created quicker and in accordance with your restaurant’s style and business concept.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hot Holiday Drinks
If there are still questions that remain unanswered about hot holiday drinks, read the following paragraphs!
What Spices Are Commonly Used in Holiday Beverages?
Common spices used in holiday beverages include cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and cardamom. These spices add warmth and festive flavor to drinks. They can be added both to hot holiday drinks and cold ones, too.
Are There Alternatives to Dairy in Hot Holiday Drinks?
There are alternatives to dairy to use, such as almond milk and oat milk, in hot holiday drinks. You can also use coconut milk and soy milk. Choose a non-dairy option that complements the flavors of your chosen beverage.
If you are serving the drinks at a bar or restaurant, you can leave the choice of milk to the customer ordering. This always leaves a good impression on people, especially those who know their plant-based milks and are after a specific taste.
What’s a Good Non-Alcoholic Alternative to Mulled Wine?
A good alternative to mulled wine is spiced apple cider. Heat apple cider with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg for a festive and alcohol-free option. You can add this drink to your menu anyway, as there are always people who are designated drivers or can’t have alcohol for some reason.