Chilly cocktails and hot concoctions
Some unknown genius once explained why we need cocktails, saying “no great story ever started with a salad.” Imagine a play-by-play of an epic ski day told over a cold plate of arugula and goat cheese. Nope. Tales unfold layer by layer, as whiskey swirls in a glass, warmth unleashing complexities in the liquors—and loosening the tongue. Next question: Do you need to warm your cockles or cool your jets? We’ve found a diverse array of hot and cold drinks featuring liquors distilled right here in Utah.
Left: Dead Man's Boots - High West Distillery / / Right: Warm Vanilla Cider - The Farm
SOME LIKE IT HOT
Fire Cider
Where to find it:
Brian Head Ski Resort, Cedar Breaks Lodge
The name of this cocktail, featuring Porter’s Fire spiced whiskey has a new meaning after last summer when a fire threatened the town. When you sip on this one, enjoy the smooth cinnamon-bun flavor and toast the still-standing town and resort of Brian Head and the fire-fighters who made another ski year at this sweet little resort possible.
Basin Connection Hot Cocoa
Where to find it:
Snowbasin Resort, Cinnabar
This cozy cocoa, featuring Five Wives Vanilla Custard Vodka, chocolate liqueur and heavenly house-made hot cocoa should be enough to draw you to the Cinnabar Lounge, but if not, go for the oversize lounge chairs, roaring fireplace and live après-ski music.
Warm Vanilla Cider
Where to find it:
Park City Mountain, The Farm
This is a simple cider sipper, but that’s what makes it great. The High West Whiskey shines through the foundation of spiced hot apple cider, Laird’s Applejack and vanilla. The drink is finished with a candied walnut rim at The Farm.
Sitzmark Cider
Where to find it:
Alta Lodge
Sitzmark Club
This warm, soothing drink is a tradition unlike any other at Alta. It has been served as long as anyone can remember and is the cidery aroma that fills the lodge. The simple, yet elegant recipe is the perfect fit to this classic ski lodge that has been standing since 1939. Legendary Alta Lodge bartender and SKI magazine cover boy Dan Withey will most likely be behind the bar to serve up this après goodness.
NOT COLD ENOUGH FOR YA?
Yuzu Sling
Where to find it:
This zippy cocktail has blessedly few ingredients because you really want the nuances of the Beehive Jack Rabbit Gin to shine. It’s floral, herbaceous, crisp—qualities enhanced by a shot of citrusy yuzu juice, a dash of simple syrup then topped with Club Soda.
Porter’s Ruby
Where to find it:
Snowbasin Resort, Cinnabar Lounge
This refreshing blend features two local bevvies—Mountain West Ruby Hard Cider, brewed in downtown SLC, and Porter’s Peach, a smooth whiskey that highlights one of Utah’s orchard favorites, grown along “Fruit Way” north of Ogden, in the valley below Snowbasin. This is finished with orange juice, meaning you can enjoy it for breakfast?
Dead Man’s Boots
Where to find it:
High West Distillery and Saloon, Park Avenue, Park City
Drink it for the name. Drink it for the setting—hard to beat the après scene at High West, the world’s only ski-in/ ski-out distillery. Or just drink it because it’s tasty and you’ll feel spurs growing on your ski boots when yer done. Featuring High West’s Rendezvous Rye, Resposado Tequila, fresh lime juice, cane sugar and ginger beer.
White Bear
Where to find it:
This is a great winter drink, says restaurant manager Josh Hockman, because “it is cream-based, which provides a nice, rich backdrop for the seasonal flavors,” including Outlaw Distillery Spiced Rum, with notes of clove, allspice and cinnamon; Frangelico Liqueur; Demerara Simple Syrup; and fresh cream, topped with a candied cherry and fresh nutmeg.
