There have been many a cocktail trends last year, some passable, some worth trying and holding on to. From the eccentric to the typical, creative juices flowed during the lockdown creating cocktails made with caviar, PB&J flavored sodas, Smoker’s Cough (Jagermeister and mayo), and snow cocktails to name a few. 

When a blizzard hit the Northeast in February, Chef José Andrés did what we all would have been tempted to - he made a cocktail with snow. He scooped up some snow, filled a martini glass with it, and topped it off with mezcal, sweet vermouth, and dried raspberry sugar and salt. Voilà - the snow cocktail was born. 

We’ve seen snow cocktails in many different variations, one more innovative than the other. We bring you the best, the most eye-popping, the most delectable snow cocktails worth trying.  

Snow On The Beach Martini

Recipe by Sugar Spice & Glitter

Snow on the Beach Martini, source: Website

Winter holiday meets summer vacation with this cocktail crafted with the award-winning rum, SinShip Charon the Ferryman Silver Rum, a gold medalist at the 2020 Bartender’s Spirits Awards. Pair this snowtini with some char-grilled shrimps or scallops.

Ingredients:
—1/2 cup coconut cream
—1/2 cup Blue Curaçao
—1/2 cup white rum (Try the SinShip Charon the Ferryman Silver Rum)
—2 cups ice/snow
—A small dish of water
—1/4 cup white or blue sugar crystals

1. Place the coconut cream, ice, and alcohol in a good quality blender and mix well, until the ice is a consistent and smooth texture.
2. Dip the edge of the martini glass about 1/4 inch into the water, and then dip into a dish filled with the sugar crystals to create a sugared rim. Repeat with 4 glasses.
3. Pour 1/4 of the cocktail mixture into each glass and serve. Serves 4.

Cold Toddy

Recipe by Diced

Cold Toddy, source: Valet Mag

Move over Hot Toddy, there’s a new version that we will drink in the winter and again in the summer. Making the Cold Toddy with the recommended Chuckanut Bay Distillery Bourbon Whisky, which was awarded 94 points at the 2020 USA Spirits Ratings. 

Ingredients:
—4 tablespoons mild honey
—4 tablespoons hot water
—1/2 cup bourbon, chilled (Try Chuckanut Bay Distillery Bourbon Whisky)
—3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, frozen
—2 cups ice/snow
—4 cinnamon sticks

1. Place 1 cinnamon stick in each of the four glasses. Pour 1 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon hot water in each of the glasses, and stir with the cinnamon stick until dissolved.
2. Combine bourbon and lemon juice and stir to combine and divide among glasses. Top with snow and stir with the cinnamon stick just to combine. Serve immediately.

Sangria Granita Snow Cones

Recipe by Sugar & Charm

Sangria Granita Snow Cones, source: website

A snow cone from the carnival, for adults only. Made with rich red wine, like the Loscano Grand Reserve Malbec, a gold medal winner at the 2020 USA Wine Ratings, this ‘wine cone’ is the best of both worlds. 

Ingredients:
—1/2 cup orange juice (fresh squeezed)
—1/2 cup pomegranate juice
—3/4 cup water
—1/2 cup sugar
—10 blackberries (more for garnishing)
—2 cinnamon sticks (more for garnishing)
—2 cups red wine (Try Loscano Grand Reserve Malbec)
—Snow

1. Melt sugar and water in a large pot.
2. Add in the juices, blackberries, and cinnamon sticks and bring it to a light simmer to let the ingredients infuse.
3. Next, remove the blackberries, pour in the wine, and simmer again.
4. Remove the cinnamon sticks.
5. Pour into a deep container, such as a metal loaf pan.
6. Add snow and freeze (overnight works better).
7. Use a fork to shave the sangria and serve in mini snow cone cups.

Strawberry Daiquiri Slushie

Recipe by Real Simple

Strawberry Daiquiri, source: Deposit Photos

Made with Ten To One Caribbean White Rum, crowned with a silver medal at the 2020 USA Spirits Ratings, this frozen Daiquiri is easy to make, and a great way to kick-off a girl’s night. Pair it with chips and a bowl of spicy salsa. 

Ingredients:
—2 ounces light rum (Try Ten To One Caribbean White Rum)
—1/2 ounce lime juice
—3/4 ounce simple syrup
—5 ounces frozen strawberries (or a half of a 10-ounce bag)
—2 cups ice/snow
—fresh strawberries and lime, for garnish

1. Add rum, lime juice, simple syrup, ice/snow, and frozen strawberries to a blender and puree until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour into a chilled Collins glass and garnish with fresh strawberry slices and lime.

The Abominable Snowmanhattan 

Recipe by Marco Style

The Abominable Snow Manhattan, source: Website

The warmth of 291 Small Batch Colorado Bourbon Whiskey,  a 91 point winner at the Bartender Spirits Awards, and the chill of fresh snow come together to create this refreshing, snow-inspired Manhattan. 

Ingredients:
—2 oz. bourbon (Try 291 Small Batch Colorado Bourbon Whiskey)
—1 oz. sweet vermouth
—2 dashes bitters
—Snow

1. Pack snow into a large snowball that will fit into a rock’s glass. Place in a rocks glass. 
2. Pour bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters over the snowball. 
3. Top with a generous handful of fresh snow and serve with a small straw or cocktail pick for stirring. 
4. Garnish with a bourbon-soaked cherry or orange peel if desired. The drink will turn slushy as you stir and sip.

Header Image: Strawberry Daiquiri. Source - The Leaf