It's the season of splurge, and one of the best ways to make a whisky even more lush is to lace it with creaminess. You'll find that the complementary and contrasting notes of rich heavy cream and coconut milk blend brilliantly with the spirit. “Milk and other creamy ingredients can actually heighten those treasured baking spice flavors in whiskies while simultaneously toning down their intensity,” explains Andra “AJ” Johnson, beverage director of Serenata and Zumo in Washington, D.C. The cocktails below perfect that balance with silky satisfaction.

Mix Up one of these Winter Cocktail Treats

Ciudad Paraíso: Get tropical with this cocktail which mixes bourbon with falernum, coconut milk, and a coconut water hibiscus shrub.

Get the Recipe: Ciudad Paraíso

Nuts Roasting on an Open Fire: Nutty amaretto combines with Firewater bitters for this cocktail that takes its name from a classic holiday image.

Get the Recipe: Nuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Bear Hug: This cocktail is meant to give the feeling of a warm embrace, with Tennessee whiskey mixing with espresso syrup, heavy cream, and Coca-Cola.

Get the Recipe: Bear Hug

Flip It and Reverse It: Silky and boozy, this cocktail combines blended whiskey with amaro, tiki spices syrup, milk stout, and an egg.

Get the Recipe: Flip It and Reverse It