From themed drinks to warming cocktails, the holiday season and wintertime in general is  the best time of the year for fun, festive drinks. Holiday bar hop to our selections below for your best wintertime cocktail bets.

 

New seasonal cocktails at the basement speakeasy of The Graham Georgetown include the Khamr made with Gosling’s Rum, Golden Falernum and coconut milk infused with honey, ginger, turmeric and ginger; The Most made with Suerte Blanco, lime, tawny port, Chaco, pineapple and blood orange agave; and the Eliot Ness with Zacappa 23 Rum, Punt a Mes, house-made coffee liqueur, Fernet Branca and cherry wood smoke. (1075 Thomas Jefferson St, NW; 202-337-0900)

 

For holiday-inspired cocktails, look no further than Jardenea at the Melrose in Georgetown. This winter season, sip on the Poinsettia Cocktail made with Calvados Brandy, apple and cranberry puree, lemon juice, spiced simple syrup, prosecco and garnished with a scarlet blossom. Alternatively, try the traditional Spiced Nog made with Captain Morgan spiced rum, local eggnog, topped with a dollop of whipped cream, cinnamon and nutmeg dust. (2430 Pennsylvania Ave, NW; 202-955-6400)

 

The ever popular pop-up bar is back for another rendition of Miracle on 7th Street. This year’s holiday-themed PUB puts the focus on pandas - a nod to DC’s favorite zoo residents. Innovative cocktails with a festive flair include Snow Cone-gnac (Cognac, Sweet Vermouth, Campari, Branca Menta), Santa Bei Bei (Siembra Azul Blanca Tequila, lime, vanilla agave soda), Nog Shots, and Festivus for the Rest of Us (Maggie’s Farm Spiced Rum, lemon cordial, mulled cider). The pop up bar is open through the holiday season. (1839 7th St, NW; 202-316-9396)

 

For winter cocktails with an Indian twist, head to Pappe on 14th Street. New additions include the Masala Sour with vodka, house-made masala chai, lemon, and egg white; Smoke & Agni with apple brandy, honey, fresh ginger and lemon; Four Corners with tequila and house made strawberry Thai chili shrub, elderflower and lime; and The Sweet By and By with rye, house-made mango chutney, allspice dram, Cocchi Dopo Teatro and bitters. (1317 14th St, NW; 202-888-8220)

 

Pop over to Logan Circle for ski chalet themed bar offerings including boozy hot chocolate, shot-skis, s’mores and other comfort food bites. Warm up with Radiator’s Apres Ski menu featuring hot cocktails like The Original Steel City Coffee (Wright Whiskey, Maggie’s Farm Coffee LIqueur, fresh coffee, sugar, whipped cream), the Pow Pow (fresh apple cider, apple pie moonshine, chai syrup) and a shareable pot of hot chocolate for 2-4 guests - make it boozy by opting for a $5 shot on the side. (1430 Rhode Island Ave, NW; 202-742-3150)

 

The New England-style fish house in Navy Yard recently introduced cold weather cocktails with new wintertime dishes. Sip on the Beet’s Knees made with Barr Hill gin, Bitter Truth elderflower liqueur, caraway-beet cordial, lime, celery bitters and Port City Optimal Wit, embellished with a garnish of dragon fruit, the Pineapple Expresso made with Plantation pineapple rum, Cap Corse Quinquina blanc, Aperol, Rieger Caffe Amaro and topped with an orange peel; and the classic Hot Toddy made with Woodford Reserve, rainwater madeira and house-infused lapsang honey, garnished with thyme and clove-studded orange peel in addition to Mulled CIder and Irish Coffee. (79 Potomac Ave, SE; 202-506-2368)

 

The Bloomingdale cocktail bar is swapping in a brand new line of drinks for the holiday season through January. The Norman Rockwell-themed menu will highlight popular Christmas pieces by Rockwell including hot cocktails, the Jolly Postman made with Appleton Estate rum, 1904 apple ginger liqueur, Becherovka, Cotton & reed allspice dram, and lemon amd A Christmas Surprise with Ilegal joven, boosma chloosterbitter and house-made dry cacao syrup. (251 Florida Ave, NW: 202-733-4952)

Photo via The Alex Speakeasy on Facebook