3 Winter Drinks You MUST Try in PEC This Month

Winter in Prince Edward County means cold walks, cozy fires, and drinks that actually warm you up from the inside. Forget your basic pumpkin spice whatever, PEC has some legit winter beverages that are worth seeking out.

Among the County’s best winter drinks are locally crafted creations like spiced cocktails, warming ales and dessert ciders.

Below are three must-try winter beverages, each highlighting a local PEC producer and their seasonal twist.

1. Spiced Hot Cocktails

Suggested place to get: Picton’s Wild Lot Distillery offers a winter cocktail menu of warming, local flavored drinks. Two highlights are the Chocolate Orange and Mulled Cranberry cocktails.

The Chocolate Orange is essentially a premium hot chocolate brightened with Wild Lot’s orange liqueur, while the Mulled Cranberry is a spiced cranberry punch (cranberry liqueur and juice steeped with baking spices). (They also serve a Boozy Coffee espresso with maple liqueur and cream liqueur for a boozy latte treat.) Each drink reflects local ingredients and holiday cheer, making Wild Lot a perfect spot to warm up on a chilly County afternoon!

2. Winter Warmer Ale 

Suggested place to get: Parsons Brewing Co. (Hillier) – Parsons Brewing stays festive all winter – they even built a covered ice rink and bonfire so friends can skate and then “warm up by the bonfire with a nice beer”.

Parsons’ seasonal standout is their Winter Warmer (8.5% ABV), a spiced, rum-barrel-aged brown ale. Winter Warmer is brewed with “nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and a subtle orange juiciness” and is so smooth it “goes down like a Manhattan”.

This rich, holiday-spiced ale is perfect for sipping fireside after a day of winter fun at Parsons.

3. Prince Edward County Ice Cider

Suggested place to get: County Cider Company (Waupoos) – For a dessert-style winter drink, head to Waupoos and try the County Cider Company’s famed Ice Cider. Made from frozen local apples, their Ice Cider is intensely sweet and concentrated.

As the producers describe it, this Prince Edward County Ice Cider is a blend of Northern Spy, Russet and Ida Red apples that is “very sweet with notes of caramel and cinnamon”. Think of it as a mulled-wine-like apple wine served chilled or lightly warmed, it has a rich honeyed flavor that pairs wonderfully with cheese, chocolate or a cozy night in.

Each of these PEC drinks is tied to a local producer and is designed for cold-weather enjoyment. Whether you’re curling up by a fire or skating under the stars, raising a glass of one of these seasonal specialties will keep you toasty and in the County spirit.

Plus, there's something satisfying about having a drink that only makes sense in winter and that's what makes them worth seeking out now.

What's your go-to winter drink around here? Always open to new recommendations before spring shows up and ruins everything. Cheers! 🍷