Hydro Flask Presents: 4 Hot Vermont Cocktails to Keep You Warm This Winter

We’re deep into January at this point, and the east coast is clawing their way out of one of the most brutal arctic breakouts in years following Winter Storm Grayson’s Cyclone Bomb. Naturally, our thoughts turn to drinking. Whether you’re out snowshoeing, skinning in the backcountry, or just huddled inside with a good book, these drinks are guaranteed to take the edge off what has been a bitingly chilly season. And with insulated tumblers from Hydro Flask, all of these hot drinks will be kept just that, hot. Remember, enjoy responsibly!

Maple Rum Irish Coffee

A sweet twist on a cold-weather classic, this recipe substitutes the traditional Irish Whiskey with Maple Rum from Smuggler’s Notch Distillery and the tablespoon of brown sugar with a tablespoon of maple syrup from Slopeside Syrup in Richmond, VT. Is it still Irish Coffee? Purists will say no, but there’s no denying that the sweet burn and caffeine kick won’t pick you up anyway. Hydro Flask’s 16 oz Flip Lid Mug is the perfect size to stick in your backpack pocket, leak-free and hot for the duration.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup hot coffee
• 1 ½ oz Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Maple Rum
• 1 Tbsp Slopeside Maple Syrup
• Heavy cream, slightly whipped

DIRECTIONS:

• Brew your favorite coffee, the bolder the better.
• Fill your Hydro Flask with boiling water and let it sit for a few minutes to get warmed up. Empty out the water when you’re ready.
• Add rum, syrup, and coffee.
• Top with about an inch of whipped cream.

Spiced hot cider with maple bourbon

Seasonal, sweet and easy, this recipe takes the best of fall flavors— apple cider from Champlain Orchards, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon—and heats them up with Smugglers' Notch Distillery's Maple Bourbon Whiskey for your winter enjoyment. Use Hydro Flask’s 16 oz True Pint Tumbler to keep this drink satisfyingly warm as you sip your winter blues away.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups Champlain Orchards apple cider
• ¼ teaspoon whole cloves
• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 ½ oz Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Maple Bourbon Whiskey

DIRECTIONS:

• Add everything but the bourbon to a saucepan and let come to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
• Strain the cider through a sieve to remove the spices.
• Add the bourbon and stir.

Hot Chocolate with peppermint schnapps

An old standby on the slopes, adding quality peppermint schnapps to a cup of hot chocolate is a surefire way to brighten even the darkest winter’s day. We like Lake Champlain Chocolates' Organic Hot Chocolate for its rich natural flavor, and pairing it with ( not bottom-shelf) Peppermint Schnapps yields a hefty helping of holiday cheer—even if the holidays finished a week ago. A 12 oz Hydro Flask with a flip lid will keep it at sipping temperature all day (not that it’ll last longer than 10 minutes).

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup of milk
• 2 scoops Lake Champlain Chocolates Organic Hot Chocolate
• 1 ½ oz of peppermint schnapps

DIRECTIONS:

• Add milk and cocoa powder to a saucepan and heat until just under a boil; remove from heat.
• Pour cocoa into your Hydro Flask; add the schnapps.
• Enjoy!

Maple Hot Toddy

The Hot Toddy is an institution in itself when it comes to cold-weather cocktails—its stated purpose is to warm you up, and it does so with aplomb. Though any type of whiskey will do to create a subtly-flavored and delicious drink, try the Smugglers’ Notch Distillery’s Maple Bourbon again and substitute the Demerara sugar of the original recipe with more Slopeside Maple Syrup for a taste of Vermont sweetness. Serve this cocktail in your Hydro Flask 16 oz True Pint Tumbler after a long day outside and you’ll be rewarded with classic, old-timey winter warmth.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup boiling water
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 slice of lemon
• 2 tsp maple syrup
• 2 oz Smugglers’ Notch Distillery maple bourbon
• ¼ oz lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:

• Prepare a lemon twist by sticking the 4 cloves into a slice of lemon.
• Fill your Hydro Flask with boiling water and let it sit for a few minutes to get warmed up. Empty out the water when you’re ready.
• Pour one fresh cup of boiling water into your Hydro Flask.
• Add maple syrup and stir to dissolve.
• Add the lemon twist and stir.
• Add the lemon juice and bourbon, stir once more.