fireside drinks

by jenna cederberg
photo by michael gallacher

Before accepting the possibility that the chills have done you in yet again, consider what a hot drink and fireplace might do to remedy the wintertime blues.

In western Montana, a winter nightcap is often best enjoyed by a fire, and lucky for us, the fireside drink options right outside our back doors are absolutely heartwarming.

In western Montana, a winter nightcap is often best enjoyed by a fire, and lucky for us, the fireside drink options right outside our back doors are absolutely heartwarming.

At the Double Arrow Lodge in Seeley Lake, they define cozy with a mix of Kahlua liqueur, Bailey’s Irish Cream, vodka and Big Dipper vanilla bean ice cream.

The famous Double Arrow Mudslide is a blizzard of decadence sweet enough to rival Santa’s smile, and is the drink people seek when they’ve slipped off to the rustic lodge for a wintertime getaway.

“It is an ice cream drink, but it still is fun to sit by the fire and enjoy that. People associate it with Double Arrow,” lodge manager Bonnie Philliber said. “It tops off the evening for a sweet tooth with a good kick.” 

The lodge’s hot drink menu also includes traditional favorites like a hot toddy and hot buttered rum. But if you’re looking to pick up a Mudslide, you’ll have to ask for it by name.

Then, sit back and let the drink and the 82-year-old Montana rock fireplace push back the encroaching chill.  

The heat of a fire not enough? On the coldest of bone-chilling days, often in the middle of a snowstorm, the bartenders at James Bar in downtown Missoula are busy mixing up their most popular wintertime libation, the Irish Hot Toddy.

“It’s warm, it’s sweet,” said one of the bar’s owners, Seamus Hammond. “The sweetness of the honey is balanced out by the bite of the whiskey. The lemon just kind of adds a little citrus to the end.”

While patrons warm their hands on the hot glass toddy, the signature fireplace in the middle of the bar is glowing. It’s a fire that’s hot enough to give people a little blast of heat as they pass by.

High up on the city’s South Hills, the coziest view in the city belongs to The Keep. The restaurant’s lounge serves up twists on hot tea that will give even the coldest customers the kick they need to make it to spring.

The Keep’s blueberry tea blends Amaretto Liqueur, Grand Marnier liqueur and a black tea bag in steaming water. Bar manager Neil Zauher says the tea has become more popular in the last years, as its almondy, orange tea flavors collide to bring a burst of blueberry. The taste will take you back to summer, while the giant stone fireplace at the center of the lounge delivers you from the cold.

A long list of big, bold and delicious red wines complement the Keep’s hot drink list, Zauher said. He recommends Hedges’ Red Mountain Blend for a winter warm-up option.

Don’t forget the grand daddy of all wintertime drinks – hot buttered rum. Zauher and his crew serve up a local and secret recipe of spices and sugar with dark rum and hot water to Keep patrons seeking warm solace.

“It's kind of hard to pin down a flavor,” Zauher said. “It's all in the name, hot buttered rum. That’s exactly what it is.”
Add a cup of golden goodness to a place where the fireplace literally lights up the room, and the snow falling outside starts to feel less like a bother and more like grace.

Jenna Cederberg is a Missoulian reporter. She can be reached by calling (406) 523-5241 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Michael Gallacher is a photographer for the Missoulian. He can be reached by calling (406) 523-5270 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .