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12 Winter-Ready Cocktails to Try Right Now in D.C.

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R. Lopez

Beyond Cider: Warm Up With One of These Hot Cocktails

Hot pumpkin chai cocktails, gluhwein and more.

by Travis Mitchell
View as Map
Iron Gate
| R. Lopez
by Travis Mitchell

Winter has officially arrived, and that means plenty of opportunities to step out of the cold and into the bar. And this time of year, the only thing better than a stiff drink is a hot drink.

Whether it's a swanky steak house or a neighborhood dive, it won't be hard to find a warm cocktail on a chilly night. Even better, many bars and restaurants are branching off from standards like spiked hot chocolate and cider and creating new twists on winter warmer cocktails.

This year's recipes feature everything from whiskey to sherry and include variations on mulled wine and hot toddies, and chai drinks. Here's a look at a dozen unique hot cocktails around D.C. to try this season.

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Bar Dupont

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Forget Starbucks and head here for the creamy and spiced hot pumpkin chai cocktail.

1500 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 483-6000
(202) 483-6000

Belga Cafe

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Head to Barracks Row for a glass of traditional mulled wine, or "gluhwijn," as its called here. The mix of wine, liqueurs and spices will certainly help take winter's bite away.

514 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 544-0100
(202) 544-0100

Also featured in:

Bibiana Osteria & Enoteca

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Bibiana is celebrating the 12 days of Christmas with 25 special cocktails, with several warming options. Go for the hot and cold gin fizz – topped with warm gin foam. There's also mulled wine and hot buttered rum.

1100 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 216-9550
(202) 216-9550

Also featured in:

Bourbon Steak Washington DC

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Thaw out with a mug of hot buttered rum or the "...& everything nice" - a spice-heavy cocktail of rum, allspice dram, ginger and cloves.

2800 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 944-2026
(202) 944-2026

Also featured in:

Copperwood Tavern

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The brandy warmer, one of three hot cocktails on the winter menu, is made with Applejack, a wine reduction and nutmeg.

The Village at Shirlington, 4021 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 552-8010
(703) 552-8010

Also featured in:

Fiola da Fabio Trabocchi

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Diners can finish off their meal with a l'alpino, a hot blend of red wine, brandy, coffee and cinnamon. Another option is the good company, which has black strap rum, coffee and whipped cream.

678 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 628-2888
(202) 628-2888

Also featured in:

Iron Gate

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Snag a seat by the fire and order up a bourbon diversion, which pairs the spirit with creme de cacao, Fernet and absinthe.

1734 N St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 737-1371
(202) 737-1371

Also featured in:

Mandu

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Mandu's hot stuff cocktail is a sort of hybrid between a hot toddy and a chai. It's made with dark rum, grand marnier, pear almond milk and and spiced tea.

453 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 289-6899
(202) 289-6899

Also featured in:

Mockingbird Hill

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Head to Shaw to try bittersweet black flag toddy, an unusual combination of brandy, PX sherry (of course), bitter lemon soda and hot coffee.

1843 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 316-9396
(202) 316-9396

Also featured in:

Poste Moderne Brasserie

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The winter lounge at Poste features the tequila-based holey moley, a spicy marriage of tequila and chili-cinnamon hot chocolate. Another choice is the maple bourbon toddy, made with bourbon, black tea, maple syrup and cedar bitters.

555 8th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-6060
(202) 783-6060

Also featured in:

Room 11

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Cozy up by one of the outdoor fire pits with a mug of glogg, a Scandinavian-style mulled wine. This recipe is spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and orange.

3234 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 332-3234
(202) 332-3234

Also featured in:

Tryst

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It's hard to beat this Adams Morgan cafe when it comes to hot, boozy drinks. Go for the honey bourbon chai or try one of the three hot toddy variations.

2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-5500
(202) 232-5500

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Bar Dupont

1500 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Forget Starbucks and head here for the creamy and spiced hot pumpkin chai cocktail.

1500 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 483-6000
(202) 483-6000

Belga Cafe

514 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Head to Barracks Row for a glass of traditional mulled wine, or "gluhwijn," as its called here. The mix of wine, liqueurs and spices will certainly help take winter's bite away.

514 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 544-0100
(202) 544-0100

Bibiana Osteria & Enoteca

1100 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Bibiana is celebrating the 12 days of Christmas with 25 special cocktails, with several warming options. Go for the hot and cold gin fizz – topped with warm gin foam. There's also mulled wine and hot buttered rum.

1100 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 216-9550
(202) 216-9550

Bourbon Steak Washington DC

2800 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C. 20007

Thaw out with a mug of hot buttered rum or the "...& everything nice" - a spice-heavy cocktail of rum, allspice dram, ginger and cloves.

2800 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 944-2026
(202) 944-2026

Copperwood Tavern

The Village at Shirlington, 4021 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206

The brandy warmer, one of three hot cocktails on the winter menu, is made with Applejack, a wine reduction and nutmeg.

The Village at Shirlington, 4021 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 552-8010
(703) 552-8010

Fiola da Fabio Trabocchi

678 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Diners can finish off their meal with a l'alpino, a hot blend of red wine, brandy, coffee and cinnamon. Another option is the good company, which has black strap rum, coffee and whipped cream.

678 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 628-2888
(202) 628-2888

Iron Gate

1734 N St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Snag a seat by the fire and order up a bourbon diversion, which pairs the spirit with creme de cacao, Fernet and absinthe.

1734 N St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 737-1371
(202) 737-1371

Mandu

453 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Mandu's hot stuff cocktail is a sort of hybrid between a hot toddy and a chai. It's made with dark rum, grand marnier, pear almond milk and and spiced tea.

453 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 289-6899
(202) 289-6899

Mockingbird Hill

1843 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Head to Shaw to try bittersweet black flag toddy, an unusual combination of brandy, PX sherry (of course), bitter lemon soda and hot coffee.

1843 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 316-9396
(202) 316-9396

Poste Moderne Brasserie

555 8th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

The winter lounge at Poste features the tequila-based holey moley, a spicy marriage of tequila and chili-cinnamon hot chocolate. Another choice is the maple bourbon toddy, made with bourbon, black tea, maple syrup and cedar bitters.

555 8th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-6060
(202) 783-6060

Room 11

3234 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Cozy up by one of the outdoor fire pits with a mug of glogg, a Scandinavian-style mulled wine. This recipe is spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and orange.

3234 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 332-3234
(202) 332-3234

Tryst

2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

It's hard to beat this Adams Morgan cafe when it comes to hot, boozy drinks. Go for the honey bourbon chai or try one of the three hot toddy variations.

2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-5500
(202) 232-5500

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