KLG PR

Heaters are here for the holidays

The days are shorter, and the temperature is dropping. It may not get truly frigid in San Diego, but that doesn’t mean a warm beverage doesn’t have its appeal during the fall and winter months. Realizing this, Cutwater, a brand typically associated with summery cocktails such as mai tais and margaritas, has launched a new line: Cutwater Heaters.

Heaters are essentially high-proof (40% ABV) mixers recommended to be combined with four ounces of hot water for every 1.5 ounces of mixer. The seasonal offering, made with Cutwater spirits, comes in three flavors: Hot Buttered Rum, Hot Toddy, and Vodka Apple Pie.

Hot Buttered Rum tastes just like the classic winter cocktail, but without the need for making a batch of batter. Strong notes of butter and cinnamon come through initially, with subtler vanilla and clove flavor lingering after the first sip. Fans of hot buttered rum will appreciate a quick, easy option for making the drink.

Hot Toddy, made with Cutwater Bourbon, offers the strongest taste of its spirit with a strong oak and citrus. Honey and lemon are the most notable flavors, with some slight vanilla notes. While Hot Toddy should appeal to bourbon lovers, it is the cocktail that benefits most from adding more of the mixer than the recommended one shot for every four ounces of hot water.

Vodka Apple Pie stands as the most unique, and flavorful, of the three Heaters. Gwen Conley, Cutwater’s director of quality assurance and innovation, explains, “When we came up with the idea for Heaters, we also had to think about what flavors would work best in a hot format. After much experimentation, we found that Hot Buttered Rum, Whiskey Hot Toddy & Vodka Apple Pie tasted delicious when we added hot water. While Vodka Apple Pie isn’t a traditional cocktail - who doesn’t love apple pie?” Tart apple, cinnamon, and butter come through in every sip, reminiscent of a more potent version of the holiday staple. Sweeter than the other two mixers, Vodka Apple Pie remains a balanced drink that could pair well with a cinnamon stick garnish or a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Most notable about Heaters is that while they’re easy to make, there is plenty of room for experimentation — from finding the right ratio of mixer to water, to trying new garnishes and adding the mixer to other hot beverages such as tea or coffee. Conley encourages such exploration, noting, “We just make it easy; you make it personal.”

In addition to the new Heaters, Cutwater has brought back Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Holiday Spirit, a long-standing seasonal favorite. The tiki-inspired take on egg nog boasts pineapple and coconut flavors which replace the of the traditional nog’s custard notes. At 20% ABV, Bali Hai Tiki Holiday Spirit isn’t as strong as the Heaters but whereas the latter is too syrupy to drink on its own, the former works just as well as a stand-alone drink as it does mixed into a holiday cocktail.