With the Winter Olympics running February 6–22, evenings are about to stretch in the best way. One event turns into three, the couch becomes front-row seating, and suddenly you care deeply about sports you only watch once every four years. It’s the ideal pocket of the calendar to lean into cozy habits, extra layers, and drinks made for slow sipping through late-night heats and medal ceremonies.
Winter cocktails should have a little backbone. Bourbon and rye bring warmth to stirred classics, amaro earns its keep after dinner, and coffee-infused spirits add depth without drifting into dessert. Coffee liqueur, especially, feels made for February. It shines in hot drinks, deepens familiar favorites, and holds its own in evening sippers built to last through overtime.
Veritable Distillery’s Coffee Liqueur, made just over the border in Connecticut, fits right into that winter rhythm. Produced in small batches with espresso-roasted coffee, aged rum, and warming spices, it delivers rich flavor without the sugary overload that can weigh coffee drinks down. Veritable also keeps things refreshingly transparent, listing every ingredient and skipping artificial flavors and stabilizers. The idea is simple: coffee liqueur should taste like coffee, not candy.
One of the easiest ways to enjoy it is in a winter-ready Manhattan that feels familiar and comforting:
Dark Roast Manhattan
2 oz Ship’s Bell Bourbon
¾ oz Veritable Coffee Liqueur
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash Black Walnut bitters
Stir until well chilled, serve up with a cherry garnish, and settle in. This is a cocktail built to carry you through final heats and medal moments.
And while Veritable may be a nearby neighbor, Rhode Island distilleries are bringing plenty of coffee energy of their own. If you want to keep it local, these coffee-infused pours from around the state are well worth a look:
Rhodium Room Distillery Bar at RI Spirits, Pawtucket
Their Coffee and Black Walnut Vodka blends cold brew from Downeast Coffee Roasters with foraged black walnut, cardamom, and a touch of sweetness. It’s smooth, cozy, and dangerously easy to sip.
South County Distillers, Westerly
Known for collaborating with local coffee roasters, this distillery has released coffee-inspired spirits made for espresso martinis and rich winter cocktails.
ISCO, Providence
Known for award winning vodka and creative experiments. Keep an eye out for limited runs or collaborations that might feature coffee and other local ingredients, or try one of their bourbons for something warm.
Other Rhode Island Distilleries Worth Watching:
White Dog Distilling, Pawtucket
A true grain-to-glass operation with a friendly, come-as-you-are vibe. White Dog turns out small-batch whiskey (including their Puppy Bourbon and older aged releases), plus gin, rum, liqueurs, and the occasional surprise. The tasting room is warm, welcoming, and always changing, with cocktails and pours that keep things interesting.
Sons of Liberty Spirits Co., South Kingstown
Bold, a little rebellious, and never boring. Sons of Liberty has built a name crafting award-winning whiskey along with vodka, gin, and creative spirits. Their tasting room is relaxed and lively, serving up house cocktails, mocktails, and good energy for evening and weekend hangs.
Working Man Distillers, Pawtucket
A family-founded distillery with a soft spot for hard work and good whiskey. Old-world techniques meet playful experimentation here, resulting in approachable, flavor-forward spirits. The tasting room is casual and inviting, the kind of place you stop in for “one” and stay a while.
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co., Newport
A longtime Newport favorite doing double duty in beer and spirits. Everything is distilled, aged, and bottled on site, from award-winning rum to seasonal releases worth exploring. Add in events, comedy nights, and views of the production floor, and it’s an easy spot to linger.
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