The best cocktails to feel warm and sunny

January is the darkest month and there was some crazy weather. Escape it all with these sunny, refreshing drinks!

January tends to be the darkest month of the year. December makes up for the darkness with the holiday season. But no, it's back to work, crazy snow in the Deep South, bone chilling temperatures and short days. If you're looking for a mental escape, here are the best cocktails to keep you feeling warm and sunny. Hey, it's happy hour somewhere.

Related: Fit marijuana into your winter bow routine

Iced Tea Lemon Vodka Cocktail

Nothing says hot weather like cool iced tea, a squeeze of lemon sun and an added kick and you've got a sip of summer in a glass. This easy cocktail can be made at home or in a bar. Perfect for a wet, cold, dark day!

Ingredients

• 12 ounces sweet iced tea
• 2 ounces citrus vodka
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Lemon slice

Create

1. Pour ice into a tall glass
2. Pour tea, vodka and juice into glass and stir well
3. Garnish with a lemon wedge

Skinny Margarita

What better way to feel summer than by sipping tequila while watching your weight for swimsuit season.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ ounces Silver tequila
• 3 tablespoon Freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 ½ tablespoon Freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 teaspoon Light agave nectar (2 If you prefer, sweeter)
• Kosher salt & Lime Wedge to catch the glass

Create

• Pour a thin layer of salt onto a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the top edge of your glass to moisten it and dip the glass into the salt so that it sticks and taps all the way.
• Fill the glass with ice and set aside.
• Fill a small cocktail shaker with additional ice.
• Add tequila, lime juice, orange juice and agave
• Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds
• Strain into the cut glass over the ice

Gold rush cocktail

The gold rush is sour like a whiskey but without the excitement of the egg. This bourbon cocktail is a great way to beat the cold. Delicious, light and refreshing – you'll feel like you're sitting on the deck of a boat enjoying a sunset.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces bourbon
• 3/4 ounce lemon juicefreshly pressed
• 3/4 ounce of simple syrup
• Lemon twist for garnish

Create

1. Add the bourbon, honey syrup and lemon juice to a shaker with ice and shake
2. Strain into a cold rocks glass over a large ice cube
3. Garnish with a lemon twist

Related: Rainy Weather Cocktails

Painkillers

Back to work and the office? Endure a few long meaningless meetings? Why not enjoy a painkiller and think of a tropical location? During the meeting, think about being a tiki hut with a creamy drink and listening to the sound of the beach. This refreshing blend originated in the dank Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands in the 1970s.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Pineapple juice
• 2 ounces dark rum
• 1 ounce Coconut cream
• 1 ounce orange juice
• Ice
• 1 prize ground nutmeg

Create

1. Combine pineapple juice, rum, coconut cream and orange juice in shaker
2. Add ice, shake for 20 seconds
3. Pour into a tall glass over ice
4. Sprinkle nutmeg on top and serve