11 Essential Cocktails for Your February Parties

If homemade ginger-infused gin doesn’t impress your guests on its own, it definitely will when it’s mixed into this cocktail. Fresh lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, egg white and ginger bitters elevate the gin’s botanical flavors and give it a creamy texture, while a dash of club soda lightens it all up.

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Heat things up with this warm and spicy tequila drink. Homemade spiced hot chocolate is a creamy base for reposado tequila, while a dash of ancho chile liqueur adds an extra hint of heat. And the recipe makes enough for two cocktails, so you can share with your sweetheart—or just have extra for yourself.

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Add a pop of brightness to dreary winter days with this beauty. Gin, egg white, lemon juice and raspberry syrup combine to form a balanced pre-Prohibition drink you won’t believe you waited so long to taste.

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Warm up on even the coldest February days with this adult spin on a kiddie classic. The best part? You can choose which spirit to use, so fans of everything from bourbon to rum can enjoy it. Finely chopped semisweet chocolate and hot milk make a creamy hot chocolate base that’s brought to new heights when mixed with your spirit of choice.

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Chocolate, mint and scotch are the flavor combination that you didn’t know you were missing until now. One sip of this mix of scotch, white crème de menthe, oloroso sherry and chocolate bitters will keep you coming back for more.

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Take a trip to the promised land without leaving your couch with this creamy concoction. Benedictine and milk are spiced with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice to make a simple but delicious drink. Feeling chilly? This cocktail can also be served hot, so you can enjoy it whenever the mood strikes.

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Keep all your guests warm with this big-batch cocktail. Gin, Madeira, lemons, oranges and pineapple are simmered until hot, then served in a teapot and garnished with clove-studded orange slices.

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Dress up your cocktail offerings with this smooth, sophisticated sipper. Vodka, cognac and two kinds of vermouth blend nicely when stirred and strained into a chilled coupe.

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Vermouth stars in this twist on a classic Manhattan. Switch things up—and lighten your ABV—by doubling your vermouth and adding a little rye and Angostura bitters. Serve in a chilled Nick and Nora glass and garnish with a Marasca cherry for a more traditional presentation of the modern flavors within.

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This simple cognac cocktail will keep you and your guests coming back for more. Shake cognac, grenadine and orange juice with ice, then strain into an absinthe-rinsed glass and garnish with an orange peel.

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Rum in the winter? Yes, it can be a thing. Adding a little smoked rosemary syrup helps keep aged rum from feeling too tropical, and oloroso sherry and Tempus Fugit Gran Classico liqueur bring even more deep, wintery flavors. Garnish with a smoked rosemary sprig for extra flair.

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