THESE DIVINE CONCOCTIONS PROVE THAT HOT COCOA ISN’ T JUST FOR KIDS.
Chocolate sphere at The Sebastian. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SEBASTIAN - VAIL
At The Sebastian - Vail, hot cocoa is an indulgent experience that starts with a gold-dusted sphere of Valrhona milk chocolate filled with Baileys handcrafted marshmallows and chocolate crunch pearls. Dark hot cocoa spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, star anise and cloves is poured from a porcelain pot into a glass, submerging the sphere. As the ball melts, marshmallows pop to the surface with dramatic effect. The Sebastian’s signature hot chocolate even made an appearance in the 2020 Hallmark movie Winter in Vail. 16 Vail Road, Vail, thesebastianvail.com
The Little Nell hot cocoa. PHOTO BY JAIMIE FLETCHER
At Chocolate Lab in Denver, it’s not hot chocolate; the delightful made-to-order libation is called “chocolate elixir.” Choose from dark, milk or white chocolate; whole milk, almond milk or coconut cream. Uplevel the experience with flavors like housemade Mayan spice or pistachio rose. Top it off with either a homemade marshmallow or homemade whipped cream. Adding a taste from the Chocolate Lab’s bar—maybe chocolate whiskey or a macadamia nut liqueur—will add another layer of warmth. 2504 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, chocolatelabdenver.com
At The Little Nell in Aspen, the go-to hot cocoa for sipping around the fire pit is made with Valrhona’s singleorigin chocolate and Dutch process cocoa powder, a decadent full cup of half-and-half, granulated sugar and a pinch of salt. The hotel’s original chocolate ganache recipe was inspired by the Demel cafe in Vienna, but it’s been tweaked over the last decade. In winter, Amy Andrews, the hotel’s pastry chef, whips up batches of this dreamy beverage, delivering dozens of cups daily. Happy hour? Add Amaretto, Baileys, Frangelico or Kahlúa. 675 E. Durant Ave., Aspen, thelittlenell.com
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