After weeks, even months, of numb fingers and toes, it's time to numb the brain a bit. So, where does one go for a good hot drink in this town? We've compiled a list of excellent local establishments that are ready to froth or steam or whip up a boilin' beverage that will, hopefully, take your mind off the weather for a while. And be sure to add your favorite hot drink hot spot by using our exclusive OMC talkback feature.

County Clare, 1234 N. Astor St.
Warm it up in front of the fireplace with a steamy stiff one at County Clare. They have more than a dozen hot drinks on their menu, and have some of the best prices in town, with drinks ranging in price between $4 and $4.50.

• Irish coffee. Includes coffee, whiskey and brown sugar, topped with whipped cream and served with a cookie.
• Hot whiskey. Imagine Irish whiskey, hot water, brown sugar, clove and a lemon wedge and you'll get the gist of this drink.
• Hot cider. Hot apple cider, Bacardi Limon rum, Celtic Crossing liqueur and a cinnamon stick.

Paddy's Pub, 2339 N. Murray Ave.
A swell selection of hot drinks here, and Paddy's gets the award for most clever names for their potent potables. All of their hot drinks are $6.

• The Naked Raspberry. Chambord, Godiva liqueur and fresh coffee. You might not get all-out naked, but after a few of these, you'll deifnitely loosen the scarf a smidge.
• Nutty Irishman. Bailey's and Frangelico.
• Peppermint Paddy. You guessed it: hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps.
• Woody's Coffee. Coffee spiked with Bailey's, Irish whiskey and Amaretto.
• Royal Mug. Drambuie, Kahlua, crème de menthe and coffee. The preferred drink of Cream City kings and queens, for sure.

Pieces of Eight, 500 N. Harbor Dr.
The lake view here is so beautiful, it would be minimizing the experience not to include hot alcoholic beverages. Some of the bar and restaurant's hottest sellers (bad pun not intended but not edited out either) are:

• Castaway Coffee. Amaretto, Bailey's and coffee. $5.50
• Butterscotch Delight. Butterscotch schnapps, hot chocolate and whipped cream. $5.50
• Brandy Apple Cider. Korbel brandy with hot apple cider topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. A Wisconsinite's favorite. $5.50

Rochambo Coffee & Tea House, 1317 E. Brady St.
Rochambo has one of the best Irish coffees in town, complete with hand-whipped whip cream on top. They even whip it to order, right there in front of you.

Von Trier, 2235 N. Farwell Ave.
Von Trier's hot drink menu goes way beyond the regular Irish coffee and hot buttered rum (although they do serve both), and best of all, everything's made from scratch. There's nothing Quik about the cocoa; it's made from steamed milk, Ghirardelli powder and Hershey's syrups. And if you order a coffee drink, they make every cup fresh-to-order so you never get the bottom of the pot.

• Chocolate Rummy. Includes Myers dark rum, Kahlua, homemade hot cocoa and whipped cream. $6.
• Amaretto Almond Mocha. A delicious mix of cocoa, double shot of espresso, sweet amaretto and whipped cream. $6.
• The Truffle. Hot cocoa and Frangelico, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with crème de menthe. $6.
• At Random, 2501 S. Delaware Ave.
  Basically, the clear winter sky is the limit when it comes to hot drinks here. They'll mix ya up just about anything, but if you don't feel like conjuring up the hot drink of your dreams, might we suggest a few menu classics.
• Hot Buttered Rum. At Random's is one of the city's best, and the owners aren't sharing the recipe love. Those with super astute taste buds might want to try to guess all the ingredients, but the rest of us will have to marvel between rich sips. $6.
• Random House Coffee. This was At Random's first house hot drink, and decades later it continues to be a favorite. Kahlua, triple sec and rum make up this bad boy. $6.