Herbal Rye Hot Chocolate

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Photo by Michael Piazza / Styled by Emmet Kelty

Serves 1

¾ ounce Ryan and Wood Rye
¾ ounce Green Chartreuse
4 ounces prepared hot chocolate or homemade (see recipe below)
pinch each of cinnamon and allspice
Whipped cream & grated cinnamon (for garnish)

Warm a mug, add rye and chartreuse, then top with hot chocolate, finish with a dollop of whipped cream and freshly grated cinnamon.

HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE

Serves 2

2 cups milk
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
½ cup sugar
1½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
Salt

In a double boiler, melt chocolate and whisk in sugar. Once the sugar is dissolved, whisk in milk. Add spices. Keep on low heat for 15 minutes.

A note about spices: I prefer whole spices to powdered as they are more pungent and aromatic. Try blending them in a clean coffee grinder or grate them with a microplane, then pass through a tea strainer so no large chunks remain. However, powdered spices will work just as well.

This recipe appeared in the Winter 2017 issue as part of a larger story on Winter Cocktails.