Hot cocktails

Deep Ellum
Mulled cider, $9
A basic blend of hot cider, spiced rum and housemade bitters, Deep’s brand of hot cocktail just might expand the season of their amazing outdoor seating area. 477 Cambridge St, Allston (617-787-2337, deepellum-boston.com)

Grendel’s Den
Mulled wine, $5
Rye toddy, $7
Grendel’s certainly wins the prize for most affordable hot cocktails. Their lineup includes an impressive array of hot toddies, ciders and coffee drinks. We recommend the mulled wine, a warm draught of red steeped in spices. Stronger tastes should go for the rye toddy, an amber-colored concoction made with Sazerac Rye, honey, cinnamon, clove and Regan’s Orange Bitters, topped off with a lemon slice. Grab a table near the fake fireplace and get sipping. 89 Winthrop St, Harvard Square, Cambridge (617-491-1160, grendelsden.com)

Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks
Café forte, $10
Buttered rum, $10
House-mulled cider, $10
Eastern Standard covers all their bases when it comes to winter warmers. The café forte is a smooth mix of Galliano Ristretto, Creole Shrubb, sweetened coffee, topped with unsweetened whip cream and a dusting of cinnamon. The super sweet buttered rum would work best as a dessert—the mix of Old Munk rum, a heaping barspoon of rum batter and freshly grated cinnamon combines to create an amazingly rich, frothy, darkly buttery concoction. Their house cider—mulled with oranges, cloves, juniper, allspice, anise, cardamom and cinnamon—tastes like liquid Christmas, plus W.L. Weller Reserve Bourbon. 528 Commonwealth Ave, Kenmore Square, Boston (617-532-9100, easternstandardboston.com)

Tremont 647

Milk and Honey, $9
While they offer the more traditional hot toddies and Spanish coffee, the real gem at this South End institution is the Milk+Honey, a creamy mix of Evan Williams Honey Reserve Bourbon, Crème de Cacao and steamed milk. 647 Tremont St, South End, Boston (617-266-4600, tremont647.com)

River Gods
Hot whiskey, $8.75
RG’s potent mix of Powers Whiskey, sugar, lemon, cloves and hot water is the perfect thing for when you want something warming and a cup of tea just isn’t going to cut it. 125 River St, Central Square, Cambridge (617-576-1881, rivergodsonline.com)

Green Street Grill
Hot bourbon & cider, $7
Green Street knows how to name a cocktail (just ask the dude ordering a Monkey Gland), but they aren’t messing around with this one. As straightforward as it sounds, this cup o’ holiday cheer puts the emphasis on the bourbon—and we’re ok with that. 280 Green St, Central Square, Cambridge (617-876-1655, greenstreetgrill.com)

Highland Kitchen
Mulled cider, $7.50
Highland mulls their cider in-house with oranges and whole cinnamon sticks. They’ll serve it up with a liquor of your choice—we recommend the Applejack brandy. 150 Highland Ave, Somerville (617-625-1131, highlandkitchen.com)

Hungry Mother
#51, $9
Hungry Mother’s hot buttered scotch is not listed on the menu, but ask for a #51 and you won't be sorry. The sweet blend of Famous Grouse scotch, honey and syrup is combined with the added richness of a pat of butter and garnished with a lemon twist. 233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave, Kendall Square, Cambridge (617-499-0090)