Behind Bars

Few things stave off the cold like a hot toddy or a glass of warm mulled wine. For the scarf-wrapped public, area bars have modern takes on classic winter cocktails. Sample these three warming libations to stay toasty. 

Swedish Glogg

Dry red wine
Sweet wine
Sweet vermouth
Raisins
Orange peels
Whole cloves
Fresh ginger
Cinnamon stick 
Sugar

Former Chicagoan, now Bona Sera owner Annette Weathers says her Glogg is an homage to Chicago’s Northside neighborhood bars, “which were full of Glogg… just fond memories of holidays and winters in Chicago—warm, inviting, and hanging out with good friends.”  

Combine and left overnight, slowly simmered for 1 hour before serving, and paired with a traditional housemade triple ginger snap cookie, a glug of Weathers’ Glogg is sure to put your spirits in a warm and happy place.

Bona Sera, 200 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, (734) 340-6335

Blackwoods Hot Whiskey Punch 

Buffalo Trace Bourbon
Demerara sugar
Peeled lemon rinds
Housemade bitters

The drink originally surfaced in 1854 in the footnotes of Blackwood's Magazine, a Scottish journal that ran fictional accounts of popular figures of the day discussing current events while sipping punch at Ambrose's Tavern in Edinburgh. 

After a 24-hour steep, combine the bourbon and dissolved sugar—lemon rinds now removed—with equal parts hot water, keeping the temperature of the water below 180 degrees to avoid cooking off the alcohol. Finished with The Ravens Club’s housemade bitters and a squeeze of lemon zest, a glass of Blackwoods Hot Whiskey Punch goes down as warm at The Ravens Club as it seemed to at Ambrose's Tavern all those years ago. 

The Ravens Club, 207 S Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, (734) 214-0400

Hot Buttered Rum

Anejo Rum
Salted MI farm butter
MI maple syrup 
Hot water

You could substitute cider for water and toss in some cloves and cinnamon sticks, but that would just get in the way of the no-frills simplicity of the thing. 327’s take on an old standard is delicious, soothing, and pure Michigan comfort. Vanilla notes from the rum mix sweetly with the earthiness of the maple syrup and the light salty creaminess of the butter. 

Bar 327 Braun Court, 327 Braun Ct, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

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