Winter warmers: WV’s top drinks for chilly days

Seasonal beer, cocktails, wines, spirits & all!

Warm up your wild, wonderful winter with some West Virginia wine, spirits and brews!

As the snowflakes start to fall, there is nothing better than cozying up with a nice warm drink. Check out these local beverages to warm up with on those chilly days.

1. Chestnut Ridge Winery’s White Cranberry

The perfect addition to any dinner table? A wintery wine. It’s the perfect complement to any hearty meal. Try Chestnut Ridge Winery’s White Cranberry, which channels the sweet and tart flavor of cranberries in a white wine.

Old Scout bourbon whiskey from Smooth Ambler Distillery, West Virginia

2. Smooth Ambler Hot Appalachian Irish Cider

‘Tis the season for some hot cider. Settle in with this classic Hot Appalachian Irish Cider from Smooth Ambler: ¾ cup Smooth Ambler Old Scout Bourbon, ¼ cup Irish whiskey, 1 bottle hard cider, 1 cinnamon stick, 1.5 cloves, a dash of allspice and 1 orange peel. Lightly boil, then steep cider, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Mix in Old Scout and Irish whiskey, then stir and serve with the orange peel.

3. Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead’s Cherry Hard Cider

Need some extra tart in your life? Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead’s Cherry Hard Cider is their newest hard cider, which combines Hawk Knob’s dry cider with tart cherries and is aged for 4 months in bourbon barrels. Those bourbon barrels? They come from right down the road in Lewisburg at Smooth Ambler Distillery.

4. Morgantown Brewing Company’s Holiday Blonde Spiced Ale

This spiced winter warmer is a fan favorite. It’s made with cinnamon, nutmeg and a nice malt flavor. It’s a beautiful straw color that pours slightly sweet and creamy with some hop highlights. Be sure to get this one on draft from Morgantown Brewing while you can.

WINE

5. Batton Hollow Winery’s Winter White

Grab a bottle of Batton Hollow Winery’s Winter White, which comes in a vibrant cobalt-blue bottle. Nestled in the hills of Lost Creek, Batton Hollow specializes in extra-fine wines, and their latest seasonal is no exception.

6. Daniel Vineyards’ Mulled Wine

Daniel Vineyards has a delicious recipe, using a bottle of their 08 St. Vincent wine. Simmer (don’t boil) ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, 2 sticks of cinnamon and 6 cloves for 10 minutes. Add the wine, and the peels from 1 lemon and 1 orange. Let it sit for 1 hour on very low heat, strain and serve warm.

7. Big Timber Brewing Company’s Frost Notch Winter Ale

This winter beer has warming smoky malt flavors with hearty hints of toffee, dried fruit and molasses. Its richness is balanced with earthy hops, so it’s a perfect go-to on chilly days. Stop by Big Timber Brewing Company in Elkins to get 1 (or 2) on draft.

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This post was last updated on March 16, 2022