While many of us pine for the bright, sunny summer months during autumn and winter, there’s something to be said for that cosy feeling when you get in from the cold and settle down for the evening. Whether it’s a roaring fire, your favourite blanket, a hearty, filling meal with the family or simply cranking the heating up and settling down in front of the TV, it’s one of the best things about the season. In Scandinavia – a place that’s cold for most of the year – this feeling even has a name: hygge.

That same warming feeling can come from what we choose to drink. While we usually associate ice-cold cocktails with the summer months, there are some combinations that work year-round. Whisky is sometimes referred to as ‘fire water’ for a reason; a little sip certainly warms the cockles, and it conjures up scenes of comfy armchairs in front of open fires. However, whisky can be enjoyed year-round as a refreshing and simple long drink when mixed with ginger ale.

Ginger is a natural flavour enhancer, complementing the complex flavours found in whisky, making the two ideally matched when mixing cocktails. They’re both full of warming, spicy notes, which means even when mixed with ice there’s still something comforting about the taste. Using ginger ale results in a sweeter, spiced drink, whereas ginger beer has a bolder, more fiery flavour. Both of them, however, bring out the complex flavours of whisky in a relaxed, easy-drinking way.