A good brandy is lovely to warm the cockles. If you really want to turn up the heat, try Drambuie or Galliano.

Yes, I'm wanting to warm the cockles! Drambuie was my father's favorite. I'm not sure I've ever tried it. Thank you.

Lots of good after dinner drinks to try, but if you want something that'll really warm you, you can't beat a brandy. Bought DH a bottle of VSOP Courvoisier...not cheap but really good. There are less expensive versions such as VS but we like this one as a splurge.

Other liqueurs we have around: tia maria (coffee flavored), drambuie, grand marnier, or for a less expensive but orange flavored liqueur you can try cointreau. Cherry Herring is a sweet liqueur. Galliano is good (banana), as is limoncello (lemon), though not especially warming. Nut flavors try kahlua, frangelico or amaretto. If you want something with kick, try chartreuse...the yellow stuff is a little sweeter and less powerful than the green version.

Not an after dinner drink per se, but I do enjoy my Southern Comfort on the rocks. DH likes his Jack Daniels. Mother was into sweet and liked her peach schnapps.

If you have an upset tummy and want to settle it, blackberry brandy always does it for me...it's sweet. Sometimes I'll have it on the rocks before dinner.

If you really want to get warm, you can try a hot toddy. We had never had one before, we came in late afternoon after shoveling snow and were freezing, so I made us some hot toddies. We got schnockered!

I would skip the alcohol, specially as you say you aren't a big drinker ... lots of empty calories in alcohol ... as I get older I would rather save those calories for something better, like a good brownie!

My dad drinks a glass of courvoisier every night. If he's had a bit too much to eat, he'll add a drop off white creme de menthe (a stinger) which is known to settle the stomach.

I switch drinks in the fall-- red wine and bourbon in the fall/winter (vodka, tequila and white wine in the spring/summer). My relaxing evening drink is almost always red wine. It really warms me up and mellows me out.. but this last week I've been drinking apple cider & pear sangria.

I don't care for the sweet liqueurs but annie mentioned many of the popular ones above. My mom loves tia maria in hot chocolate. Every once in awhile, I like Patron Cafe Dark in coffee.

We've always favored a Polish blackberry brandy by LeRoux - Jesynowka (which just means made of blackberries).Might be hard to find Jesynowka at all liquor stores but a well stocked outlet in areas that has any Eastern European population, surely. There are copycats - label must say Jesynowka.

Smooth straight, have never had it on the rocks, but it will pack a punch on the second little snifter.

These sound so good. Wish I had one right now! I think the thing to do is order a drink after dinner out so I can try out these suggestions. I never have room for dessert anyway.

I used to love blackberry brandy as a kid. We had it for Christmas and the kids were allowed to drink it. I think I've also had peach shnapps at Christmas. I love fruit flavors, so Cherry Herring looks interesting. I might also enjoy a brandy or whiskey. Not as much of a fan of amaretto and have had plenty of Kahlua and creams in my younger years.

DH is a red wine drinker. It was seeing his stash of corks in his wine cabinet that made me decide I need to splurge on a bottle of spirits for myself once in awhile!

It might be less expensive to buy miniatures than to pay for exhorbitantly marked up restaurant drinks. Triple Espresso Vodka is good.

Yes, good idea! Thanks!

I enjoy a decaf coffee with Baileys Irish cream.

I forgot to mention creme de cacao and creme de menthe...while sippable, I prefer them over ice cream.

I like a small glass of port on a cold winter's night.

For a time there, I was enjoying Harvey's Bristol Cream.

Yum...I'm not a fan of drinking harvey's bristol cream, but I did eat a cream puff one time where the cream was flavored with it...delish!

I love Kahlua... add alittle milk if u like it creamy...

I like sweet drinks, so lots of the cordials would be my choice...

for hard liquor, I would tend to lean towards bourbon in the winter, tho i don't drink/like it straight. my hub likes scotch.

red wine is warming, but I cannot sleep after I drink it and I feel like it gives me heart palpitations/flutter...I think I am sensitive to tannins, so really only drink sweeter wines...

I haven't made these in years but they are a great crowd pleaser. B52's! The trick to layering is to pour the layers over the bottom rounded bit of a teaspoon slowly into chosen glass. You are meant to sip each layer individually. Below is the basic recipe...Kahlua, Bailys and Grand Marnier. However, I used to use pretty stemmed 2oz to 2.5oz cordial glasses. My crowd liked smaller layers of Kahlua & Bailys and a larger layer of Grand Marnier. If you want to be real showy you can bring them "lit" on a tray to the table or bring as a side with coffee.

Wow! Dessert in a glass! What is the difference between Bailey's and Harvey's Bristol Cream? I remember not liking Baileys.

The only spirit I really dislike is rum.

I really appreciate all these suggestions.

Oh boy. I got a lot to learn!

Have you ever tried Frangelico? I haven't had that in ages...years! It's a hazel nut liqueur and very tasty. It also goes over well in a crowd for after dinner drinks.

Frangelico in coffee is also delicious. Which brings me to Grappa and Ouzo.

Ugh, why is my liquor cabinet dry?!!

ugh, grappa --- that's some strong stuff!! couldn't imagine sipping it!

I have heard of a b52(drink), but never knew what it was or that it was so pretty! I was thinking it was a shot, sortof like a kamikaze...

I love hazel nut. Can you mix that with creme de cacao?

Yes you can mix it, it's called an M & M. Or, mix with Kahlua. Busybee, the UN-layered B52's on ice is a cocktail. The B52's un-layered straight up is a shooter. The layered in a cordial glass or fancy shot glass is meant to be sipped a layer at a time. Some people will argue that the layered straight up is also a shooter. Well, that's just stupid. What's the point of layering if you are going to slug it down like an ape.

Every xmas my GF has a big party and makes screaming nazis...they're actually quite tasty. Jagermeister and Rumple Minze.

"...like an ape." LOL. I love that image.

I used to like Baileys but haven't had it in years. Used to have a splash in my coffee once in a while. (Um, not in the morning!)

I agree with whoever said to buy the little "nip" bottles if you can find them, and try a few. You've actually got me intrigued now so I might do the same. We have a bottle of Lemoncello that someone gave us, but it doesn't really appeal to me.

I've only had Limoncello in a mixed drink and it was very good.

Keep the limoncello in the fridge and then serve it cold or on the rocks...it's very tasty that way.

On a really REALLY cold day--brandy in hot apple cider. Nothing better post-pre-or-during tobogganing!

Recipe to mull the cider

I make ridiculous hot toddies when I have a cold - not sure if it helps the cold or if I just don't care anymore!

* juice of a lemon

* 1-2 T honey

* 1-2 oz Irish whiskey

* cinnamon stick, cloves, or allspice

* pinch cayenne

* 1-2 t minced ginger

* if I'm really sick - clove of minced garlic

* Put it all in a big mug and top with boiling water

* Put on wool socks and watch Bruce Willis action movie. This is a crucial step.

Sounds good but I'd have to leave out the spices and Bruce Willis. Maybe some old Moonlighting episodes.

lol @ robo!

Growing up my Mom use to let us have a little Creme de Mint on special occasions after a big dinner. These days I love Bailey's. I prefer it straight up. DH likes it on the rocks. Also wonderful in coffee and hot chocolate.

We discovered B52s while in Toronto with friends. Had the three liquors in coffee with whipped cream on top. Now that's dessert!

I want robo and justerrilynn at my next party - or to go to one of theirs - you two know some fun drinks!

Hot cider with a slug of spiced rum is a favorite around here. I used to drink sherry but not so much any more, as i like it very dry and most people / places stock sweet sherry (and some don't know the difference before serving you).

i used to drink courvosier after dinner, now i skip it unless its a very formal occasion and i havent had much wine with the meal. Thinking about dinners in the 70s with my parents and their friends....cocktails before dinner, wine with dinner, after dinner drinks...its a wonder we arent all in liver failure.