3 minute read
MAN DRINKS BOISE
Hot Butter Rum, Press & Pony. PHOTOS BY ALAN HEATHCOCK
By Alan Heathcock
Brisk winds, snow, slushy roads, inversions—welcome to winter in the Treasure Valley. These days present the challenge of giving us reasons to venture out from the cozy confines of our abodes. Nothing warms my bedraggled cockles like a cup of anything that captures the nostalgia and spices of the season, so I’ve combed the area for wintry beverages that stirred my inner Kringle and sent my Grinch into hibernation.
Nothing taps the nostalgia of childhood like a cup of hot cocoa. The Mexican Hot Chocolate at Java is rich and not too sweet, with a peppery hint of cayenne for sophistication. To amplify your joy, order the Keith Richards, which is the same Mexican Hot Chocolate with four—yes, four—shots of espresso. It’s hard to mention chocolate without visiting our friends at The Chocolat Bar. Their Peppermint Chai with a shot of espresso is a stand-out (PRO TIP: Accompany your drink with a Ginger Twig and an After Dinner Mint for the perfect mix of sweet and spice).
I’m regularly on the search for the perfect London Fog. Earl Gray tea, with its notes of bergamot and vanilla, conjures in my mind a foggy Victorian holiday morning. The folks at Broadcast Coffee have localized that imaginative trip with their Treasure Valley Smog. With Earl Gray tea, vanilla, cinnamon, and steamed milk, this latte doesn’t reinvent the London Fog wheel, but it’s easily my favorite in town.
On a cold evening, a hot toddy almost feels like medicine, and we’re fortunate to have many fine doctors in the valley. Crave Kitchen in Eagle makes a delicious toddy, the Whiskey Bar lets you choose your base whiskey, which is fun, and Water Bear has a wonderful cidery take with their Apple Trap. My favorite in town is at The Mode, where their expert preparation yields a traditional toddy that’s hot, bright, and balanced.
Mulled wine is having a moment, and you can find many excellent offerings that capture that old-world spirit in a glass. The Cottonwood Grille has their Mulled Over cocktail, Red Feather is great for all cocktails and their mulled wine is no different, but my destination of choice is Das Alpenhaus Delikatessen, which applies rigorous German authenticity and lots of heart to their mulled wine (for a bonus, pick up some Schnitzel while you’re there).
I don’t typically gravitate toward hot buttered rum, which is often too sweet and too heavy for my taste, but Press & Pony, with a family recipe passed down through generations, has won me over. The hot buttered rum is frothy and spicy, not overly sweet, with a savoriness that doesn’t leave you feeling like you’ve consumed a cup of butter. It’s pure delicious warmth in a glass, and my favorite winter drink of all those I’ve sampled.
The message here is to not let the cold and darkness get you down. Winter blahs, be damned. Gather a group of wayfaring compatriots with the mission of finding the best winter beverages in your locale. And may the warmth of your drinks match that of your company.
