Lovely Libations
Photography: Timothy Thimmes
Deep in the heart of Park City’s winter, the sun vanishes early. As the bone-chilling night air begins to settle over town, you feel it down to your toes, and suddenly, you’re craving something hot — a throat-warming sipper to soothe body and soul. And we don’t mean chicken soup. We’re talking about the timeless appeal of heat and spirits. While the old standby hot toddy (tea with brandy, honey and lemon) can certainly do the trick, some of Park City’s top restaurants would like to thaw you out with something a bit more playful. Our “Top 5” picks:
1. Head into The Cabin Lounge at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel for an après-ski Kandy Gram delivery. This blend of Rumplemintz (a German Schnapps), Bailey’s and hot chocolate topped with a drift of whipped cream and served in a tall glass mug will definitely take the chill off. Be sure to thank The Cabin’s bartender, Kandy Grantz, for her superb creation.
2. Shivering on Main Street? Slip into Shabu, Mark and Kevin Valaika’s new hot spot serving “freestyle Asian cuisine,” for a Hot Hazlenut Haze. A toasty, sweet sipper, it combines hot Hakusan sake and Frangelica, straight up in a sake pitcher with tiny cups. Remember, never pour your own sake — it’s bad luck. Bring a friend, or find one to share the warmth.
3. Go classic Swiss with Adolph’s Café Kirsch — at Adolph’s, of course. Following tradition to the letter, able bartenders pour special air-dried Swiss coffee into a heated glass mug, add a pour of fine Swiss Kirsch, and top it off with freshly whipped cream, sometimes with Swiss chocolate shavings.
4. Be like Boris and Natasha and play Russian spy with a KGB at Bistro Toujours. Beverage manager John Burdick tops Kahlùa and Grand Marnier with hot foamed Bailey’s (yes, deliciously foamed, like milk on a cappuccino), in a glass mug with a skiff of whipped cream.
5. Pretend you’re French at Easy Street Brasserie or the adjoining Bar Boehème and get a glow on with lead bartender Larry Masterston’s Chocolate Corvette: Meyer’s dark rum, crème de cacao and hot chocolate in a tall glass mug. It may be named after an American icon, but ooh, la la!
Writer Virginia Rainey believes in staying warm whenever and however possible.
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