There are plenty of things to love about the arrival of winter: the rediscovery of well-worn boots that look (and feel) even better with each passing month, the excuse to skip a night out to tuck away under heavy blankets, reeking of smoke after an evening spent at the Union Pool fire pit.
With these pleasures comes the arrival of the hot toddy: a potent blend of hard liquor, hot water, honey, lemon and spices designed to warm the stomach and take the edge off winter’s bite.
Almost every bar in the neighborhood features some take on the hot toddy, with standouts including Daddy’s (try the ginger variety), Five Leaves (their Highlands Cider gets a dose of housemade quince butter and thyme), Fireproof East (especially strong), and Pete’s Candy Store (extra cinnamon-y).
But for cold boozehounds with a sweet tooth and a willingness to branch out a bit, Huckleberry Bar’s jalapeno tequila-infused cocoa is a beverage that leaves the trusty rusty toddy in the dust.
Huckleberry bar's spiked hot cocoa, in all its glory
The masterminds of mixology behind the counter at Huckleberry take their housemade hot chocolate (“super decadent,” declares bartender Jeffrey Stalcup) and pair it with their spicy pepper-infused tequila. The result: a thickly indulgent (yet kicky!) sipping drink that somehow marries the unapologetic pillowiness of Kristie Allie’s hips and the bad-assedness of Mickey Rourke’s… well… everything.
Fans of other, more traditional pepper-spiked confections - Vosges’ “Red Fire” comes to mind – know a kick of pepper heightens the flavor of cocoa like none other.
But Huckleberry Bar’s boozy version takes this flavor pairing to an entirely new level. It’s sugar and spice with a shot of courage. It’s the drink you order after a hellacious day at work; the drink you tell your friends to meet you at the bar for; the drink you fantasize about when it’s not around.
And it’s absolutely the best way to cure — or sate — your alcoholic, chocoholic cravings in the cooler months to come.
