6 Essential Winter Cocktails to Keep Your Spirits Up This Season
These local cocktails will help you brave the chilly Hawaiian winter.
Naughty & Spice ($14).
Photo: Courtesy of Mahina & Sun’s
In Hawai‘i, come winter, the weather rarely gets frightful, and we don’t often get to experience the delightfulness of an indoor fireplace, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate these cooler months. One good way: with a strong, wintery drink. Here’s a roundup of our favorite chilly weather cocktails.
1. The Dude
With a mix of bourbon and cold-brew coffee capped off with a dash of Averna, an Italian amaro, this cocktail is the perfect pick-me-up for Waikīkī window gazing and people watching.
$14, Stripsteak Waikīkī, International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave., 800-3094, stripsteakwaikiki.com
The Dude ($14).
Photo: Courtesy of Stripsteak Waikīkī
2. Naughty & Spice
Rye whiskey gets a holiday makeover with ginger, star anise and cloves, plus a fluffy egg-white cap to tie it all together.
$14, Mahina & Sun’s at the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, 412 Lewers St., 923-8882.
3. Sun’s Out
Maybe you’ve gone a little overboard on the holiday cookies? We hear you. To the rescue: this bright, fruity cocktail from the newest offshoot of The Pig & The Lady. Turmeric, tonic, pineapple and kaffir lime leaves balance out a base of gin, madeira and cocchi Americano.
$11, Piggy Smalls at Ward Village, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, 777-3588, thepigandthelady.com
4. Busan Star
There are a lot of flavors going on in this cocktail from Lucky Belly, thanks to Korean makgeolli, Spanish Licor 43, matcha and cold-brew coffee, but ’tis the season for going big, right? Between the matcha and coffee, we’re calling this the essential New Year’s Eve pre-game.
$10, Lucky Belly, 50 N. Hotel St, luckybelly.com, 531-1888.
5. Lucky Black
Smooth Irish whiskey gets a bittersweet twist with the addition of Amaro Nonino, an Italian amaro made with gentian root, chinchona, saffron and orange peel.
$10, 12th Ave Grill, 1120 12th Ave., 732-9469, 12thavegrill.com
6. Triple-Dog-Dare Ya!
Here’s a good mix of fortifying fig-infused Scotch made tall with soda water, and an accent of vanilla and rhubarb bitters for easy drinking.
$10, Livestock Tavern, 49 N. Hotel St., 537-2577, livestocktavern.com
