5 hot cocktails to try in Singapore now that weather is cooling down

This ultra-small pocket bar located along Tanjong Pagar always keeps things fresh –changing its concept twice a year to keep barflies on our toes. This time around, it takes inspiration from kitschy ski lodge discos of the 1970s to the present day Petite Chalet. We’d imagine there’s no better beverage to have after hitting the slopes than a mug of hot chocolate. The Swiss Miss ($25) is spiked with green chartreuse and dark rum before it’s topped with whipped coconut cream and torched cinnamon. 

Just for the festive season, Junior also has a couple of other festive tipples available till January 1, including Uncle Joe's Eggnog ($25) and Glüwein ($25), an extra boozy German-style mulled wine with cognac and apple brandy.

The team at Chihuly Lounge’s take on a classic Irish Coffee ($22) deploys hand-brewed single-origin Ethiopian coffee, Irish whiskey and homemade cream. Served warm in a Georgian Irish Coffee glass, this stunner is well-balanced, nutty and not bitter in the slightest.

Having moved from its original Waterloo Street address to Telok Ayer Street (right above Park Bench Deli), Shin Gi Tai still takes a no-nonsense approach to cocktails, focusing on classics. There’s no menu – simply tell them what you’re in the mood for and they’ll shake something up. It’s $25 for most cocktails, $30 and above for those made with premium spirits, so be sure to check before you order. Ask for a warm cocktail and they usually come back with a Hot Toddy – ours came steaming with The Orientalist Dragon Whisky and a slice of lemon studded with cloves.

From December 4 to 26, the good folks at MO Bar bring on the festive cheer with this frothy cup of eggnog ($24) made with rum, oloroso sherry, egg yolk, sugar and chai milk. You can also choose to have it cold, too, but where’s the fun in that?

It’s not Christmas unless there’s mulled wine at the table and from now till December 25, you can take home your very own 700ml bottle ($98) prepared by the bar legends at Manhattan. It’s made with red wine, fresh orange peel, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, sugar and cognac – all you have to do is warm it up over the stove and it’s ready to be the star of your dinner party. Alternatively, it's also available as a part of Manhattan’s Adults-Only Sunday Cocktail Brunch every Sunday in December. It is the season of feasting, after all.