Even though I love the ski season, some of my best memories come from visiting warm weather locations in the wintertime. This got me to thinking about what the hot trends in cocktails and great destinations will be this winter.

It seems as if most of the cocktail world has been focused more on spirits and bitters than on the category of liqueurs. This is unfortunate, as liqueurs are not only such a key flavoring and balancing ingredient in so many cocktails but they can be such a key component in a customer’s experience, whether served as a cordial or as an ingredient in culinary dishes or desserts.

Full story on beverage trends by Dress the Drink and insider info from David Wondrich, Doug Frost, Christine Sismondo and many more. Plus common hangover remedies and prevention – fact or fiction?

“Rock & Rye can be served hot with excellent effect to fight off colds, influenza’s, miasmas, megrims, swamp mists, and blackwater fevers. In fact any sort of excuse seems to work.” – Charles H. Baker, Jr., The Gentleman’s Companion, 1946

Secret passages, gangsters, and bootlegging . . . these scream Boardwalk Empire, but they are all true historical aspects of the Canadian Club Distillery in Windsor, Canada.

“Hangover Coach” Kendra Strasburg of CRAVE Health passes along suggestions for getting through the New Year’s Eve festivities without spending the first morning of the year worshipping the porcelain gods.
 Several cocktail recipes.

Besides including the perfect Southern cocktails, it includes gorgeous photography by her husband, Robert Peacock. What a creative team these two are. Courtesy of With a Southern Twist (withasoutherntwist.com).

itM takes another humorous look at drinks across the states with such recipes as the ‘Velvet Elvis’ and ‘Bart Simpson.’

The St. Regis Atlanta will spice up the holidays with twelve festive libations in the spirit of the Twelve Days of Christmas Cocktails. Courtesy of With a Southern Twist.

The International Bartender Association held its 37th annual World Cocktail Championship in November and this year, so far, there have been no fewer than a dozen national cocktail competitions. Many spirits brands and notable mixers are involved.

This story was first featured in the Summer issue in 2010 and is worth a ReMix. There’s nothing quite like having a cocktail in a historic bar. It makes your mind wonder about who has visited this same place in the past.

Charlotte Voisey, portfolio ambassador for William Grant & Sons, has been named Mixologist of the Year. The Mixologist of the Year category is new to the Wine Star Awards for 2011 making Charlotte the first recipient.