by Carly Milne

Drinking Wonderland

While winter in Los Angeles isn’t anything like winter in, say, Toronto, the fact remains that it can get pretty crispy by the time December rolls around. Sure, you could drag out warmer coats and throw on a scarf, but we recommend trying one of the following winter and holiday-inspired drinks, expertly designed to make you remember warmer climates and forget about gift shopping.

The Creamy

Start at the Kress in Hollywood with a little bit of Jingle Bells, made of nigori sake, Amaretto and heavy cream, shaken with ice and garnished with gold kinpaku flakes. Follow up with the aptly named Crème Candy Cane, blending Grey Goose with peppermint schnapps, white crème de cacao, a splash of half-and-half and some soda yuzu water, served in a peppermint candy-rimmed glass. Yum! Then there’s the Kress Holiday Almond, with Amaretto, Kahlua, “Kamoizumi” nigori sake and heavy cream, served in a chilled glass with a cinnamon garnish. You’ll be toasty in no time.

The Fruity

Both Bar Chloe in Santa Monica and Magnolia Hollywood are embracing the seasonal blood orange. Highly recommended from the bartenders as “guaranteed to warm you up this winter” is the Old Fashion Rubyy, featuring Rubyy Blood Orange Energy Drink, Four Roses bourbon and Peychauds Bitters, muddled with two cherries and a dash of sugar. Meanwhile, Rush Street embraces the orange in the form of the Jack Rose, a blend of bourbon whiskey, pomegranate molasses and fresh lemon and lime with grated orange zest, which won’t just warm you up, it’ll curl your toes. But if you’re more into a mellow fruity mix, try the Spiced Apples & Pears, with spiced pear vodka, apple juice, fresh lemon and lime and a pinch of cinnamon.

The Sweet and Spicy

Culver City’s Gyenari has an incredible liquid treat called the Smashed Pumpkin Cocktail, made with rum, pumpkin pie filling mixed with sugar and spice, and topped with a homemade whipped cream float flavored with Grand Marnier, vanilla and sugar. But BLVD 16 is hot on their heels with the Apple Jack, melding steamed apple cider with Jack Daniels and cinnamon simple syrup served in a spiced rimmed glass. Meanwhile, Cameo Bar at Whist in Santa Monica is doing its own take on cider with their Naughty Caramel Apple, stepping it up with house-made caramel, organic apple cider, Frangelico, Calvados and holiday spices. And last but certainly not least is Hollywood’s Café Wa s, which not only offers a great assortment of absinthe cocktails courtesy of an absinthe drip in the mezzanine bar, but they’re also doing a Maker’s Mark hard spiced mulled apple cider.

Soft and Chocolatey

Of course, not all winter drinks have to be alcoholic. Try a taste of Choclatique, a fabulous Los Angeles-based company with Hot Drinking Chocolate Mixes made from real stone-ground and shaved premium chocolate, Tahitian vanilla and Hawaiian-grown cane sugar. It’s thick and rich like Barcelona-style hot chocolate. And the drinking mix flavors are to die for: dark chocolate, chocolate peanut butter and chocolate cinnamon. Sure, you could add a splash of Bailey’s, but why mess with perfection?

The Details

The Kress
6608 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood
thekress.net

Bar Chloe
1449 2nd St.
Santa Monica
barchloe.com

Magnolia
6266 1/2 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood
magnoliahollywood.com

Rush Street
9546 Washington Blvd.
Culver City
rushstreetculvercity.com

Gyenari
9540 Washington Blvd.
Culver City
gyenari.com

BLVD 16
10740 Wilshire Blvd.
Westwood
hotelpalomar-lawestwood.com

Whist
1819 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica
viceroysantamonica.com/dining

Cafe Wa s
1521 N. Vine St.
Los Angeles
cafewas.com

Choclatique
choclatique.com