Drinks to Keep You Warm While Watching Winter Olympics

So you can’t get enough of the incredible athletes and their death-defying tricks in this Winter Olympics, can you?  I certainly can’t.  After having tried my luck at skiing in Keystone, Colorado, recently, and realizing just how much muscle it takes to simply walk in skis, much less the skill and courage you have to find to throw your body down a mountain reaching speeds over 80 miles an hour, I have nothing but respect for these Olympians.

Shoot, I hurt my finger and found eight bruises on my body and was ready to just hang out in the ski lodge all day.

Well, if I did, I now know what kind of drinks I would want to savor while chilling out by a cozy fire, watching the wild ones going at it outside.   I’d want to try “S’More Snow” and a “Bacon, Eggs & French Toast Martini.”

Never heard of them?  Well, you can find them in the new book just released by Kim Haasarud, Liquid Chef, author of 101 Shots and 101 Martinis, and guest judge on Iron Chef America.  She has pulled together the must-try trendy apres-ski libations that will heating up this year’s Apres Ski Cocktail Classic, voted 2013 Best Cocktail Festival by Fodor’s.

I believe they’re worthy of a gold medal if you want to give them a try while watching the next Olympic competition.  Let me know if you make any of them!

BACON, EGGS & FRENCH TOAST MARTINI
Dinner-breakfast of champions! Rise to the occasion and shine with glee – we’re talking a bacon-infused vodka, eggs and maple sugar syrup sit down!

1 oz bacon-infused vodka

3/4 oz Wild Turkey American Honey bourbon

1 egg yolk

1/2 oz agave nectar

1 oz half & half

ground nutmeg

maple sugar rim, for garnish

crisp bacon strip, for garnish

• Wet rim of cocktail glass with lemon wedge and dip into plate of maple sugar.  Set aside.
• Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Shake vigorously for a good 15 count.
• Strain into rimmed cocktail glass.
• Dust with grated nutmeg.
• Top with crisp bacon strip.

S’More Snow Martini
Drink your fireside dessert! Indulge in rich creme de cocoa, irish cream and vanilla vodka topped with roasted mini marshmallows.

3 oz homemade hot chocolate, cooled

1 oz dark Crème de Cocoa

1 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream

3/4 oz Vanilla Vodka

3 to 4 miniature marshmallows

• Combine the chocolate, dark crème de cacao, Bailey’s, and vanilla vodka in a cocktail shaker filled with ice
• Shake moderately
• Strain into a chilled martini glass
• Drop 3 to 4 miniature marshmallows in the glass and roast with a crème brûlée torch, if desired.

T-LIFT TODDY
Warm your toes, and soul, with this delicious hot toddy made with scotch, honey, water and lemon.

6 to 8 ounces apple cider, heated

1 ounce Spiced Pear Infusion (see below)

cinnamon stick, for garnish

pear slice, for garnish

Fill a coffee mug with the hot apple cider and add the Spiced Pear Infusion.  Garnish with a cinnamon stick and pear slice.

Serves 1

ENJOY!