Hot drinks for winter's coldest days

It takes a special breed to handle a Minnesota winter. Between our Nordic blood and Midwestern grit, we don't bat a frozen eyelash when the thermometer dips to miserable lows. Hell, we'll probably go ice fishing. For fun.

Minnesotans have been fortified by years of tundra-prairie life, making the mid-30s feel like T-shirt weather. But sometimes we need some amenities to deal with the constant nip in the air, and a good hot drink is up there with remote car starters and pocket-size heat packs.

Fight off the Minnesota cold with these sippables.

If to-go cups were a thing, this Warehouse District restaurant and cocktail spot could make a fortune slinging its mulled cider to jacketless clubgoers destined to freeze while standing in line.

The caraway-heavy blend, also steeped with cloves, cardamom and cinnamon, is served as is, or with a spirit of your choice. Mixed with rye whiskey, the various spicy flavors fire in unison — an invigorating fusillade that jump-starts the palate like a frozen car battery.

For a more soothing, easy chair of a tipple, try it with cognac. The French brandy complements its sweeter apple flavors, making for a lip-smackable core-warmer.

123 N. 3rd St., Mpls., 612-746-5533

White chocolate and a Becherovka (a slightly cinnamon-y herbal liqueur) cream is an unabashedly extravagant combo — the lynx fur coat of cocktails — pure rich, silky lavishness. A milk chocolate/Fernet Branca-cream pairing might be more traditional, but one sip of this deeply cocoa-y dessert cocktail and you will forgot about those thin, marshmallow-topped drinks of your youth.

601 1st Av. N., Mpls., 612-312-1821

Bradstreet isn't the only cocktail bar rolling out new hot drinks this week. Icehouse just added a few belly-heaters, including a delicately maximalist take on the classic hot toddy.

Despite being in the brandy-loving Midwest, the Eat Street bar looks to Scotland for this version of the cold-season favorite, calling for Laphroaig 10-year and a faintly present Hendrick's Gin. The peaty Scotch permeates the drink, synergistically kissed with minty Fernet Branca and ginger syrup, alongside honey syrup and Fee Brothers' Old Fashion bitters. A hot water bath melts the competing flavors into an ameliorative winter elixir.

2528 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-276-6523

The south Minneapolis pub offers more than 200 single-malt whiskeys, plus a decent roster of blended whiskeys. Nerd out all season with its "Whisky Bible" — a lengthy catalog separated by regions, rare selections, new arrivals and more; with detailed tasting notes to help you pick your poison. Sure, Merlins has a handful of actually hot drinks, but why not warm up to the best Scotch selection in town?

3601 E. Lake St., Mpls., 612-216-2419

Unfortunately, there are bound to be times this winter when a stiff drink might be inappropriate — a job interview, your niece's first communion, driving. During life's sober moments, let Verdant provide your liquid jacket. Where a chai can be the nonalcoholic equivalent of a white Russian — thickly creamy and hyper sweet — the Seward tea house's version is a spicy antidote. The three-tea blend, served with almond milk, is neither dense nor sugary and allows an amiable medley of spices (from saffron to black peppercorn) to shine. Take home a batch of this microbrewed tea for when your car won't start.

2111 E. Franklin Av., Mpls., 612-223-8907

Michael Rietmulder writes about bars, beer and nightlife.