Easy Aprés-Ski Cocktails to Make From Your Ski Cabin

Aprés-ski is nearly as important as the skiing and riding itself. After a long day on the slopes, the first thing you often want to do—right after removing your boots and heavy layers—is to unwind with a drink in hand as you ease into the evening. But sometimes you just don’t want to jostle your way to the bar or squeeze onto a patio after a long day of skiing. There’s often nothing better than making your own aprés-ski cocktail and cozying up by the fireplace or in the hot tub of your ski cabin. 

So we’ve put together a list of easy aprés-ski cocktails you can make from the comforts of your ski accommodations. Pick a spirit, stock up on a few ingredients, and use these simple cocktail recipes as inspiration for your next trip. For those who don’t drink, we also included non-alcoholic versions of some of these recipes.

Easy Aprés-Ski Cocktail Recipes

Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. whiskey or rum
• 1 cup boiling water 
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• Garnish with a cinnamon stick, lemon twist, or star anise

This hot toddy recipe is inspired by Food & Wine. First, you’ll bring water to a boil. Add whiskey, honey, and lemon juice to a mug, and then pour the hot water over it. Stir and garnish with a cinnamon stick, lemon twist, and/or star anise. For a non-alcoholic hot toddy, replace the whiskey or rum with your favorite non-alcoholic spirit.

Irish Coffee

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Irish whiskey
• 5 oz. coffee
• 2 tsp. sugar
• Whipped cream or heavy cream

There aren’t many drinks that are as iconic as an Irish coffee on a ski day. While there are a lot of variations and slight differences in the way that people make an Irish coffee, this particular recipe is inspired by Esquire’s Irish coffee recipe. To make it, you’ll first brew your coffee. Then you’ll combine the whiskey, coffee, and sugar in a mug. Mix together well, and then top with whipped cream. You can purchase a container of whipped cream, or you can make your own by lightly whipping a cup of heavy cream with a dash of vanilla and one tablespoon of sugar or honey.

Mulled Wine

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles of a dry red wine, like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir (or non-alcoholic red wine)
• 2 oz. maple syrup
• 3 oz. honey
• Peel of one orange
• 3-4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tbsp. cloves
• 2 star anise
• Splash of vanilla
• 4 oz. brandy, rum, or orange liqueur (or a NA orange liqueur)

The following recipe comes courtesy of yours truly, OnTheSnow’s Senior Editor and resident mixologist. It’s a very adaptable recipe, so you can use whatever ingredients and spices you have on hand. Additionally, non-alcoholic wine and spirits can be used to replace the wine and suggested alcoholic spirits. To make it, add everything to a pot, and heat it on medium-high heat. You want it to heat to just below a simmer (not a boil), and then lower the temperature. Heat on low for at least 30 minutes, and up to a couple hours. You can adjust sweetness to your preference. I’ll start with 1-2 oz. of maple syrup and 3 oz. of honey, and then add more if necessary. Discard the solids and ladle into a mug. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and/or orange wedge. 

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup red wine (or non-alcoholic wine)
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
• Dash of salt

This variation of a hot chocolate also comes from yours truly. Add everything but the red wine, to a saucepan, and heat on medium-low, stirring frequently. Do not let it come to a boil. After the chocolate has melted and everything has combined (usually a few minutes), add the red wine and heat for a couple minutes on low. Remove from heat and pour into a mug. Garnish with marshmallows or whipped cream. Some red wine hot chocolate recipes, like this one from Wine Enthusiast, call for cocoa powder. However, I think that this is just chocolatey and rich enough. Note that you may have to adjust your sweetener depending on the level of sweetness in your wine. I use a dry red wine, so 1-2 tablespoons of honey should be enough.

Aperol Spritz

Ingredients:

• 3 parts Prosecco
• 2 parts Aperol
• 1 part club soda
• Orange wedge

Few cocktails are as refreshing, especially following a sunny day of skiing, as an Aperol spritz. And few cocktails are as easy to make. Just remember 3-2-1. This Aperol spritz recipe comes directly from the Aperol website. You’re first fill a wine glass with ice. Add the Prosecco, followed by the Aperol, and then top with club soda. Garnish with an orange wedge. 

Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Vodka
• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 3 oz. ginger beer to taste
• Lime wedge and sprig of mint to garnish

File the Moscow Mule under the list of “most recognizable cocktails,” thanks to its iconic copper mug. The Moscow Mule is also one of the easiest drinks to make. To make it, you’ll fill a glass—or even better, a copper mug—with ice. Pour in the vodka and lime juice, and then top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime wedges and mint. You can trade out the vodka for your favorite spirit (or non-alcoholic spirit) and use the same ratios. Try mezcal, if you want a little smokiness, and gin for something more botanical. You also can’t go wrong with a whiskey mule, known as a Kentucky Mule.

Tender Knob

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. bourbon
• 2 oz. apple cider
• 3/4 oz. agave nectar
• 1 slice of an apple
• Pinch of cinnamon

This cocktail recipe gives off all the fall and winter vibes. It was created by H. Joseph Ehrmann, owner of one of the oldest continually operating taverns in San Francisco, Elixir. To make it, you’ll first muddle the apple slice in a cocktail shaker. Then add the bourbon, apple cider, agave nectar, and cinnamon, along with ice, to your cocktail shaker, and shake. Strain it into a glass over ice. Liquor.com shares more details about it here.

Maple Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1/2 oz. maple syrup
• 2 dashes bitters
• Orange peel to garnish

The Maple Old Fashioned is a particularly fitting cocktail for a New England ski trip. This is a slight variation of a traditional Old Fashioned, which typically calls for granulated sugar or a sugar cube. To make this version of an Old Fashioned, you’ll add the bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice, and stir for about 10 seconds. Strain into a glass with ice and garnish with an orange peel.