Sip and Ski

Après-ski cocktails are the best part about hitting the slopes.

- Lucy Simon

DESPITE THE IRRITATING over-glamorization of après-ski cocktails in movies, television, and most recently by fashion influencers in flawless-yet-impractical matching snow gear, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as the first sip of a well-made drink after a long day on the slopes. As a novice adult skier whose boyfriend comes from a family of experts, the ritual has become more a part of my life than I ever anticipated—just after lunch, while the rest of the group heads off to ski double black diamonds on the mountain, my mind starts to wander to cocktail hour.

Before my first ski trip with his family, I’d imagined après-ski (the French term for the myriad social activities that might follow a day of skiing) would be like in the movies. I’d ski up to a bar to find a spot right away. The sun would be shining, but it would still be chilly enough for a hot toddy, and I’d feel fabulous. Reality, though, is not so glam. My first attempt at après-ski went more like this: I peeled off my sweaty helmet, struggled to remove my chunky rental skis, and hobbled to the overcrowded bar in a mismatched jacket and snow pants that were bought on sale in the basement of Macy's.

Yet despite the bar being loud, jam-packed, and a little stinky, the experience was pure magic. My cocktail, a perfectly made Negroni with a fat orange twist, made the whole day of lift lines and wobbly knees worth it. Since skiing is a nonnegotiable for my boyfriend, après-ski happy hour might just save my relationship in the long run.

To bring a taste of the slopes home, here are four stellar après-ski–inspired cocktails from resorts around the world.

Apricot-Orange Negroni

TOTAL 5 MIN; SERVES 1