While overlooked by some, cocktails during winter and LA’s cooler months take on comforting qualities with herbs and spices that work well to combat the chilly weather.
The following winter seasonal cocktails around LA are made with traditional ingredients, providing a delicious way to toast, sip and get toasty.
Ginger Cosmo at Upper West
3321 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica
Tangy cranberry juice pairs with spicy ginger-infused Elixir G mixer and crushed candy to create an edgy cocktail bursting with the popular flavors of a holiday dinner.
Served in an airy atmosphere with original artwork and a movie projected on the wall, the Ginger Cosmo at Upper West is shaken with 42 Below vodka, the gold winner of the World Spirits Competition, making for a drink that’s both smooth and satisfying.
The Ad Man at the Glendon Bar
1071 Glendon Ave, Los Angeles
Oranges reach their peak during the winter so now is the time to savor this sweet citrus. Poured over rocks with bourbon whiskey, orange juice, cherries, and raw sugar, the Ad Man cocktail is well-suited to the brick and leather décor of the Glendon Bar’s classy interior.
Sweet Pumpkin Martini at Fig and Olive
8490 Melrose Place, West Hollywood
Pumpkins are ubiquitous at every farmer’s market and grocery store until spring comes around. The Sweet Pumpkin Martini at Fig and Olive is made with house-infused vanilla vodka, apple brandy, and pumpkin-spiced marmalade, giving new life to the season’s most popular gourd.
Spiced Mule at the Roger Room
370 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles
The holidays aren’t complete until someone breaks out the spices. The Roger Room mixes Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, ginger juice, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon into a Spiced Mule so comforting, it soothes to the bone.
Fig-Etaboutit at Craft
10100 Constellation Blvd, Los Angeles
Only when the name of this cocktail is said aloud does it inspire a playful smile and understanding nod. Fig-Etaboutit at Craft combines the mild honey and floral taste of figs with the nuttiness of walnuts to highlight the delicate notes of the original Middle Eastern fruit.
To make this cocktail, Craft’s beverage director John Dal Canton mixes Old Overholt rye whiskey (one of the few brands to survive the Prohibition) with Black Mission fig-infused Dolin Rouge Vermouth and black walnut bitters for a drink that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Pomegranate Margarita at Firefly Studio City
11720 Ventura Blvd, Studio City
Sipping this seasonal pomegranate margarita among the bookshelves at Firefly inspires guests to channel their inner Hemingway. Even though the famous author preferred dry martinis, this drink features the similarly clean and crisp feel of premium tequila, pomegranate juice, and Cointreau.
The simplicity of the ingredients lets the flavors shine while the autumnal twist on the traditional beverage will appeal to locavores and artists alike.
The Fireside at Mohawk Bend
2141 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles
There is no better feeling than seeking refuge from the winter chill and discovering a roaring blaze in the fireplace. Bursting with a huge array of the season’s most heart-warming flavors, the Fireside cocktail at Mohawk Bend is perfect for enjoying beside the restaurant’s own hearth.
The cozy combination of apple, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon are heated through, then spiced up with Crusoe Spiced Organic rum for a drink that offers warmth when a fireplace alone won’t do.
Smokey the Pear at 643 North
643 N Spring St, Los Angeles
Only the 643 North can prevent the winter blues with their Smokey the Pear cocktail. Made with High West Campfire whiskey and spiced pear syrup, this drink continues the theme of uniting by a smoldering flame, a quintessential holiday tradition.
Nick of Thyme at the Blind Donkey
53 E Union St, Pasadena
Specializing in the country’s most historic spirit, the Blind Donkey stocks over 50 American, nine Irish and 25 Scottish varieties of whiskey.
These whiskeys play a starring role in almost every specialty cocktail at the bar, including the Nick of Thyme. It’s made with Kentucky Buffalo Trace bourbon, honey-thyme syrup, and Cock & Bull ginger beer, all commingling in a drink so sweet, floral and festive, it’ll make St. Nick proud.
