‘Tis the season for hot chocolate. Very officially, that is: National Cocoa Day is Dec. 13. If hot chocolate is a little too PG for your holiday festivities, kick it up a notch with these alcoholic cocoa concoctions.
1. Baby, it’s cold outside, but Blue Ribbon Beer Garden (190 Allen St., 212-460-5300) isn’t letting that keep patrons from the outdoor terrace. Cozy up under heat lamps and blankets with their new bourbon hot chocolate ($11). A spiced rum cider is on the menu, too ($11).
2. The crew at the Lower East Side’s Mulberry Project (149 Mulberry St., 646-448-4536) has concocted the Alpine Sailor Hot Cocoa cocktail ($14) just in time for National Cocoa Day. They’ve shared the recipe so you can make the rich and creamy drink at home.
Ingredients
1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 oz maple syrup
1 1/2 cup of milk
Heat up these ingredients in a large mug with:
1 1/2 oz. of Sailor Jerry Rum
1/2 oz. Crème de Cacao
3 dashes of walnut bitters
3. The W Verbier in Switzerland is the W Hotel chain’s first ski retreat, and here in New York we’re using that as grounds for celebration. All W Hotels of New York(www.whotelsnewyork.com) are serving a Chocolat Chaud ($14-$16) in their Living Rooms. We didn’t want to hit the slopes, anyway.
Ingredients:
1 ozGrand Saint Bernard Jaune
6 oz honey
3.3 oz chocolate
Top with whipped cream
4. Looking for something alcohol-free? Balducci’s Gourmet On The Go Café (301 W. 56th St., 646-350-4195) is the place to go for hot beverages, offering lattes, cappuccinos, coffees and teas. Now, they’re featuring some festive flavors with the new Peppermint Hot Chocolate and the Candy Cane Latte.