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7 Spots to Sip Warm Cocktails in Metro Detroit

From hot wine concoctions to boozy hot cocoa, here's where to drink warm cocktails in Metro Detroit.

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Winter has been downright mild this year by Detroit standards, with hardly a Polar Vortex in sight. Yet with snow dusting the streets seemingly every other day, it's still safe to partake in one of the singular joys of cool weather: hot cocktails. From hot glasses of wine to boozy hot cocoa, here are seven spots to thaw out at the bar with a warming cocktail.

Disclosure: The author is a member of Detroit's USBG chapter.

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The Keep

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It doesn’t get much more intimate than The Keep. Stoak a little Scandinavian fire in your belly with the Ragnarok cocktail. Bombay Sapphire, Aquavit, honey, lemon and hot water will make you say Skål (cheers) in no time.

The Oakland

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The Tom & Jerry isn’t just a well-known cat and mouse team; it’s also a warm concoction that time forgot. The Oakland is doing more than their part to bring it back, but only on snowy days. Follow the bar on Facebook or Instagram to see when the blend of cognac, rum, eggs and milk is ready to taste.

Detroit City Distillery

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Sometimes you just need a throwback to your childhood and that’s where Detroit City Distillery comes to the rescue. The mint hot chocolate made with the distillery's own bourbon is a nostalgic trip back to your grandparents house. Topped with whipped cream and mint chocolate chips, you’ll feel like a kid and drink like an adult.

The Sugar House

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The Father of Bartending, Jerry P. Thomas, is famous for creating the Blue Blazer. The Sugar House puts their own spin on it with the Cleaner & Dyer’s Blazer, a combo of rye, apple brandy, blackstrap rum, cinnamon, angostura bitters and maraschino liqueur. The name references the Prohibition era and Detroit’s own Purple Gang.

La Dulce

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Fernet Branca is a delight of bartenders, but this bitter liqueur is tricky to mix into recipes at home. La Dulce takes a crack at it with their Perlirroja. If you know Spanish you’ll get the translation for this drink of Fernet, apple brandy, and housemade ginger beer.

Townhouse

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Clarified milk punches might sound like mad science but the process brings a smooth, velvety taste to drinks. The Three Sheets Alliance at Townhouse brings a laundry list of compelling flavors together ranging from spirits to citrus to tea.

The Standby

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Standby's formidable bar menu features to warm cocktails including the intoxicating Hot Wine Bling. Each glass comes with a phone number and may result in endearingly nerdy dancing.

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The Keep

It doesn’t get much more intimate than The Keep. Stoak a little Scandinavian fire in your belly with the Ragnarok cocktail. Bombay Sapphire, Aquavit, honey, lemon and hot water will make you say Skål (cheers) in no time.

The Oakland

The Tom & Jerry isn’t just a well-known cat and mouse team; it’s also a warm concoction that time forgot. The Oakland is doing more than their part to bring it back, but only on snowy days. Follow the bar on Facebook or Instagram to see when the blend of cognac, rum, eggs and milk is ready to taste.

Detroit City Distillery

Sometimes you just need a throwback to your childhood and that’s where Detroit City Distillery comes to the rescue. The mint hot chocolate made with the distillery's own bourbon is a nostalgic trip back to your grandparents house. Topped with whipped cream and mint chocolate chips, you’ll feel like a kid and drink like an adult.

The Sugar House

The Father of Bartending, Jerry P. Thomas, is famous for creating the Blue Blazer. The Sugar House puts their own spin on it with the Cleaner & Dyer’s Blazer, a combo of rye, apple brandy, blackstrap rum, cinnamon, angostura bitters and maraschino liqueur. The name references the Prohibition era and Detroit’s own Purple Gang.

La Dulce

Fernet Branca is a delight of bartenders, but this bitter liqueur is tricky to mix into recipes at home. La Dulce takes a crack at it with their Perlirroja. If you know Spanish you’ll get the translation for this drink of Fernet, apple brandy, and housemade ginger beer.

Townhouse

Clarified milk punches might sound like mad science but the process brings a smooth, velvety taste to drinks. The Three Sheets Alliance at Townhouse brings a laundry list of compelling flavors together ranging from spirits to citrus to tea.

The Standby

Standby's formidable bar menu features to warm cocktails including the intoxicating Hot Wine Bling. Each glass comes with a phone number and may result in endearingly nerdy dancing.

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