The holidays are over and for some of us who live in countries where we have “real winters” the frigid winter air tells our bones that it’s cocktail time. Whether you’re looking for a seasonal winter cocktail, a festive Champagne cocktail, a classic or a fruity one, these are 7 cocktails to impress your guests with.  I asked my friend Tobias Andersson who is not only a successful global business executive and entrepreneur but also a Master Mixologist to design for me his favorite Winter Cocktails.
Enjoy!

Apple Martini with a hint of Cinnamon
For 2 cocktails, you will need:

• 7 cl vanilla vodka (I prefer Absolut)
• 5 cl apple liqueur (green in color like Apple Sourz)
• 4 cl lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 4 cl apple juice, freshly squeezed (eg Tropicana)
• 3 cl simple syrup
• 0.5 of egg white

Sugar and grounded cinnamon for the glass edges

Do this: Take a lime wedge and drag along the edge of the martini glass. Dip the edge in a mix of sugar mixed with grounded cinnamon. Shake all the ingredients with ice cubes in a shaker. Pour the drink into the glass.

Iced and “mulled” elderflower Prosecco

Give the mulled wine an extraordinary festive frame with bubbles served in beautiful champagne cups. A given hit!
For 10 cocktails, you will need:

• 5 dl concentrated elder flower juice
• 5 cinnamon sticks
• 50 spice cloves
• 15 whole cardamom capsules (lightly crushed)
• 5 cm ginger (grated)
• 1 bottle of prosecco (750 ml), well-cooled

Do this: Mix all ingredients except the Prosecco in a saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes, do not boil. Pour the mixture and cool before distributing it in ten champagne glasses. Fill up with cold prosecco and serve immediately.

Brandy Alexander after dinner cocktail

With cream, crème de cacao and brandy, this classic is a creamy, indulgent delight.
With many details of its origin unknown, the Brandy Alexander became popular in the early 20th century. Try this cocktail as a decadent after-dinner sipper.

For 1 cocktail, you will need:

• 4 cl Cognac or other fine aged brandy
• 2 cl Dark crème de cacao
• 2cl Cream
• Garnish:Freshly grated nutmeg

Do this: Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.Shake, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

Forbidden Apple

There’s nothing like a Champagne cocktail. Whether for New Year’s Eve or any celebratory occasion, a bottle of bubbly can turn into all sorts of delicious drinks.This twist on the classic Champagne Cocktail is spiked with apple brandy and orange liqueur.

For 1 cocktail, you will need:

• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 2 cl Grand Marnier
• 4 cl Calvados
• 12 cl Champagne, Cava or Prosecco

Garnish: 1 Orange twist

Do this: Add the first three ingredients to a Champagne flute and top with the Champagne. Garnish with an orange twist.

Blackberry Smash

A fresh, fruity Bourbon Smash!

For 1 cocktail, you will need:

• 1/2 lemon, sliced
• 4 plump fresh blackberries
• Mint sprig
• 6 cl bourbon
• 2-4 cl simple syrup (depending on how sour you want it)

Garnish: Mint and a blackberry

Do this: Muddle lemon slices, blackberries and mint in a cocktail shaker. Add bourbon and simple syrup and fill shaker with ice. Shake at least 10 times and strain into a short glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint.

Dark ‘N’ Stormy 

Even when Dark ‘N’ Stormy describes the weather, you’ll feel warm on the inside. Try this classic rum cocktail.

For 1 cocktail, you will need:

• 6cl Gosling’s Black Seal rum
• Real ginger beer (absolutely not Ginger Ale!)
• 1-2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• juice from 1 lime wedge

Optional garnish: Lime wedge

Do this: Fill a tall glass with ice, and add the rum, lime juice and Angostura. Top with the ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Negroni

This bitter favorite is a classic Italian aperitif cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth and gin.

For 1 cocktail, you will need:

• 3 cl Campari
• 3 cl Gin
• 3 cl Sweet vermouth
• Garnish:
• Orange half-wheel

Do this: Add all of the ingredients to an Old Fashioned glass and fill with ice (preferably one big ice cube). Stir until cold, and garnish with an orange half-wheel.