When it comes to wintery cocktails, it's hard to top the Hot Toddy. Whether it's an après ski libation, a treatment for a winter cold, or just for sipping in front of a warm fire, it's difficult to beat the simple joy of a warm, boozy drink. Usually when making a hot drink like a Toddy, one reaches for the darker spirits: whiskey, most obviously, though brandy and even aged rums all make for an excellent base for hot drinks. More uncommon, then, is the use of gin. While this juniper-flavored spirit doesn't see much in the way of hot drinks, it can work well, as exemplified by the Curiosity Killed the Cat, You Know. This heavily botanical drink comes from McLain Hedges of Morin in Denver, and contains a few more obscure ingredients than your average Hot Toddy. For starters, while the use of gin is already uncommon, Hedges uses a very particular one at that: Monkey 47, named for the fact that it has 47 different botanicals, whereas most gins tends to have around a dozen. Some of these botanicals are hand-foraged in the Black Forest, adding even more wintery notes to the drink. Besides the gin, it also calls for génépy—an herbal alpine liqueur that suits a hot drink like this well— and Macvin du Jura, a fortified wine from Eastern France. Chamomile tea adds even more botanical depth, for a lush, complicated winter drink. “This cocktail celebrates the roads less traveled and the curious flavors you find through the high mountains of Germany, France and Italy,” says Hedges, “The Macvin du Jura [liqueur wine] is floral and honeyed, with light tannin that helps to carry the cocktail. The génépy is herbal and sweet, lifting and adding depth at the same time. The gin is powerful yet balanced and has layers upon layers of aromatics and textures.” 6 Gin Drinks Perfect for Winter Sipping