Halloween and Bonfire Night land within a week of each other and both mean standing around outside in the cold. Anyone planning autumn cocktails UK style needs drinks that stay hot and taste of something. Spice helps. So does honey, which rounds off a sharp spirit and sits happily with cinnamon and clove.
The Bonfire Night serve
Hot apple and honey whisky wins for us. Pour it into a flask before you leave the house and it will still be steaming when the first rocket goes up. Cold hands appreciate that far more than any garnish. If you would rather stick with tradition then Beeble's perfect hot toddy travels just as well. Pack enamel mugs too. Glass and frozen grass rarely end well.
Halloween honey cocktails
Dry ice looks good for about four minutes. A drink that is dark by nature does the job without the faff, and our Dark 'n Swarmy fits nicely. It is Honey Rum with ginger beer and a squeeze of lime. Crush a few blackberries in the glass first and the whole thing turns an inky purple.
For the adults handing out sweets at the door you can warm the ginger beer with a coin of fresh ginger. Stir the rum in once the pan is off the heat.
Spiced honey whisky
This is the one we make most. Beeble Honey Whisky brings the sweetness that most hot whisky drinks need a spoonful of honey for. That leaves apple and a few whole spices to finish the job.
Ingredients (serves 1)
- 50ml Beeble Honey Whisky
- 150ml cloudy apple juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 1 strip of orange peel
Method
- Heat the apple juice gently with the cinnamon and cloves until it just steams.
- Take the pan off the heat and leave it for two minutes so the spices can work.
- Put the whisky in a heatproof glass and strain the juice over it.
- Twist the orange peel above the glass to release the oils and drop it in.
Variation: Try pear juice for a softer version or add a slice of fresh ginger for more kick.
The autumn rum punch
One pan gives you eight servings. Beeble Honey Rum has a warm tropical edge that suits cranberry and star anise. It also scales up without any fuss when the guest list grows.
Ingredients (serves 8)
- 400ml Beeble Honey Rum
- 1 litre cloudy apple juice
- 500ml cranberry juice
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 orange sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 cloves
- 2 star anise
Method
- Tip the juices and spices into a large pan and press the cloves into the orange slices before adding them.
- Heat gently for about 10 minutes without letting it boil.
- Switch off the heat then stir in the rum and lime juice.
- Ladle into heatproof glasses with a slice of orange in each.
Serving tip: Pushing the cloves into the orange means nobody bites into a loose one in the dark.
Serving hot drinks for a crowd
Boiling drives off alcohol and flattens the honey so keep the heat low once the spirit goes in. A slow cooker on its warm setting holds a punch for a whole evening. The back ring of the hob works too.
Ladle some of the spiced juice into a separate jug before the rum goes in. That gives drivers and children their own pot. Label both jugs because nobody can tell them apart by torchlight. Set out spare orange slices and cinnamon sticks as well so guests can dress their own glass while you watch the fireworks.
Shop Beeble for autumn
Bonfire Night is also when people start thinking about Christmas presents. Our gift bundles are an easy place to begin and there is a Hot Toddy Gift Set made for exactly this time of year.
