Mel warms up with winter cocktails

It’s dark and cold with winter weather bombs going off left, right and centre. We need something to take us back to the warm, cosy Christmas card scene.

Fear not, I have found the Christmas feeling we all seek. It’s in the form of several glasses at Didsbury’s Metropolitan.

“Get to the point, I’m cold” I hear you yell at your screens. Okay, okay.

The Metropolitan is serving up a selection of Winter Warmer drinks at the moment. Yes, glühwein is one of them but there are more; each with their own festive flavours and each giving you the feeling like you’ve had a hug from Santa.

Starting with the mulled wine, this is clearly Christmas in a glass and a definite crowd pleaser. Warm, aromatic and fresh with the fruit – whoever invented it deserves a Christmas present and it should always be accompanied with a mince pie. There is also a warm winter cider option (Rekorderlig Winter Cider). This is a nice change to the red and leans more to vanilla with the apple and cinnamon. Lighter, fruitier, and in a strange way, is almost like a white wine version of the mulled wine (even if it is cider).

Talking of winter versions of things, there is a Winter Pimms option too. Served with warm apple juice, you can either enjoy by the glass or shared with a teapot complete with tea cosy. Yes it’s a gimmick, but that’s what this time of year is all about! I like this very cute, very moreish drink and it’s quite different from the usual Wimbledon Pimms we know and love.

My favourite of the lot however is a pear & gingerbread punch – WOW, it is absolutely delicious. Strong pear flavours come in the form of Xanté cognac which is served with warm apple juice and sweet gingerbread syrup.

I love drinking hot drinks in the cold, something very snug about it. I used to go the Christmas markets for that feeling but now find it too busy. Here at The Met you get the cold, you get the warm drinks – you get the hustle and bustle too but a bit more peaceful and a little less sausage.

The only one missing is eggnog, which I hate anyway.

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Posted: Friday 12th December 2014
ID: 2578 - 1262