Some Like It Hot

The hot summer put up quite a fight. As we eased into October, or “Hotober” with 70 degree days, it seemed like fall would never come.

Now that November is here, it’s finally sweater and scarf weather. But most importantly, it’s suitably chilly for a mug of something cozy, warm and has a nice boozy kick. Luckily, Park Slope bars, coffee shops and restaurants are happy to oblige.

Friends, enter the hot cocktail.

At (228 Seventh Avenue), a cozy chocolate and wine bar lounge, you can sip on two of life’s most wonderful things together in the same mug, complete with a chocolate rim.

Their French Hot Chocolate combines Brooklyn's Tumbador dark chocolate, steamed milk and Graham’s Portuguese Port.

If white chocolate is your thing, they can make you a White Out, with port and white chocolate.

“It’s the prettiest drink,” says barista Cassandra Katanesksca. “It’s also fun to make. I’ll take sips of the extra when I make one.”

To make the French Hot Chocolate, Katanesksca starts by dipping the rim of the cup in gooey chocolate syrup and dark chocolate shavings and then serves the choc-tail piping hot.

Since Cocoa Bar only has a partial liquor license, they are forced to be more creative. No Irish coffee here. Instead of hard liquor in their martini you’ll find sake. And instead of Amaretto, you get the rich acidic flavor of port to compliment the bitterness of dark chocolate.

There is also a serious sexiness to this drink: you can lick the chocolate fudge off the rim, it sticks to your lips and the chocolate aftertaste fills your mouth. After you get your order, curl up in a chocolate brown velvet couch in the back of this low-lit bar and sneak in some cold weather cuddles. 

If you’re too germy and sick with the first of the season’s flu to kiss anyone, what you need is a Hot Toddy. Hot tea, honey, lemon and whiskey will clear your congestion right out and take away the pain.

(837 Union Street), a Park Slope comfort institution, is just the place to fix your respitory ailments or satisfy your winter drink fix. With over 50 teas to choose from, they’ll make you a Toddy with the herbs of your choosing.

Barista Lauren Katche recommends the Northern Lights non-caffeinated herbal blend or a nice fruity African Rooibos. Personally, I’m partial to a traditional English version with Earl Grey.

Tea Lounge also features another unique hot-tail called the Kerri Doherty, a blend of real brewed Chai tea and Malibu, in honor of their marketing staffer who’s made it her regular drink.

Got a unique order? Who knows, maybe if you hang around Tea Lounge long enough they’ll name one after you too.

Finally, over at (168 Seventh Avenue), an aesthetically stunning sushi bar that makes minimalist decor elegant (and not clubby), you can sip on three types of hot sake, in two sizes.

While Yamato is more of a restaurant than a bar, they are open until midnight on weekends and eleven on weekdays, which is more than late enough for a first stop in a late night.

They are also very gracious about drinkers at the table and don’t skimp on the hospitality. The regular sake (125 ML) size is good for one person and the large (250 ML) is perfect to share.

Like a good Japanese sushi-ya, they offer two different kinds of house sake, which is made from fermented rice, one is dry and the other is super dry. They also have sweet sake, which has more natural sugar, and the dry has less sugar and more acid.

Like baby bear in the story of Godilocks, I think the middle is “just right.” The dry sake, served hot in a natural thermos earthenware carafe is poured out by the thimbleful to stay warm no matter how long you nurse it. Sip it along with a bowl of salty edamame and you’ll be feeling warm and fuzzy inside.