Hot Toddy co*cktail Recipe (2024)

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Few co*cktails provide better comfort and restoration from the cold as the Hot Toddy.

Hot Toddy co*cktail Recipe (1)

History of the Hot Toddy

It’s likely the Hot Toddy got its name from tāṛī, a hot spiced palm wine popular in and around India. Some time after the early 1600s, the British likely stole the concept (or were inspired, if you prefer) during their long occupation of the region. In the hands of the Brits, the Hot Toddy underwent a few modifications, keeping the spices but substituting palm wine for whiskey (palm trees being something of a rarity in Great Britain).

As a result, through the 18th and 19th century, the Hot Toddy became popular as a well-appreciated warm up against the chilly British climate. Additionally, the cozy co*cktail was (and continues to be) valued as a cold remedy and sleep aid, soothing sore throats and relieving coughs. Though the medicinal value of hot booze is debatable, it probably wasn’t a bad system—either the symptoms were alleviated or they were too drunk to care.

Hot Toddy Tasting Notes

The Hot Toddy is spicy, and aromatic, with floral sweetness intermingling with tart citrus.

Hot Toddy co*cktail Recipe (2)

Ingredients
  • ½ ounce honey: Fun Fact: if sealed properly, honey never spoils—like, ever.
  • ½ ounce lemon juice: We love fresh citrus! Pro tip: when choosing lemons or limes, heavier fruits with thinner skins that give a little when squeezed will yield more juice
  • 6 ounces hot water: The water should be hot enough to make coffee or tea, but not boiling. It’s a Hot Toddy, not a Scalding Toddy.
  • ½ ounce whiskey: Use your favorite whiskey. Dealer’s choice!
  • Cinnamon stick: as a garnish
  • Lemon wheel: as a garnish

Steps
  1. Pour ½ ounce honey into a mug. Here we use an Irish Coffee mug, but feel free to use anything suitable for hot drinks.
  2. Pour ½ ounce lemon juice.
  3. Carefully pour 6 ounces hot water.
  4. Stir gently until the honey dissolves.
  5. Pour 1 ½ ounce whiskey.
  6. Garnish with the cinnamon stick and lemon wheel.

Hot Toddy Variations

There are probably as many variations of the Hot Toddy as there are people who drink them. Experimentation is encouraged!

  • Adjust the ratio of honey, lemon, and whiskey to suit individual taste. For example, more whiskey gives a stronger alcohol punch, while more honey increases the floral sweetness.
  • Different whiskeys impart different flavors and aromas. For example, bourbon can add oak, caramel, and vanilla flavors, while scotch can bring floral, smoky, or malty notes.
  • For a relaxing, instead of hot water, try using herbal teas such as lemon, ginger, or chamomile. If looking for more of a pick-me-up, use fragrant black teas like Earl Grey or Assam.
  • Much of the Hot Toddy’s appeal is its aroma. Try using ginger, cloves, cardamom, orange zest, or even peppercorns as additional or alternative garnishes. Maybe don’t use them all at once though, unless you want a mouthful of potpourri.
  • Other spirits like rum or brandy bring their own sweet, fruity character (See Substitutions below)
  • A few dashes of bitters add more spicy notes.

Substitutions

The Hot Toddy recipe isn’t set in stone, making substitutions pretty easy.

  • Other spirits like rum and brandy are wonderful substitutes for whiskey—especially dark rum or apple brandy.
  • If squeezing lemons is impractical for your purposes, consider using high-quality mixes from co*cktail Artist.
  • Honey may be replaced with maple syrup, agave nectar, sugar, or stevia.

When to Serve

Traditionally the Hot Toddy is served whenever folks want pleasant relief from the cold. In other words, if there’s a fire in the fireplace, start thinking about pulling out the Hot Toddy mugs.

  • Before bed: The soothing combination of whiskey and honey is a perfect way to ease into slumber. Please note we said before bed, not in bed. Drowsily holding a mug of piping hot booze while relaxing in bed may lead to very unrelaxing consequences.
  • After cold weather activities: After a day of skiing, snowboarding, sledding, or just spending time out in the cold, a Hot Toddy can restore warmth to the cheeks as well as the spirit.
  • Cozy get togethers: Warm, cheerful gatherings deserve warm, cheerful co*cktails!
  • When suffering from colds or the flu: The combination of hot water, spices, honey, and citrus have been known to help alleviate cold symptoms such as sore throat and congestion. Sadly, alcohol tends to dehydrate and is therefore not recommended medicinally. Its ability to lift the spirit however might just make it worth it!

What to Serve with a Hot Toddy

  • Spiced desserts, such as apple pies, mince pies, or fruitcake.
  • Flaky pastries, whether sweet or savory.
  • Traditional holiday dishes.

As always, please enjoy the Hot Toddy responsibly!

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Hot Toddy co*cktail Recipe (11)

Hot Toddy Drink Recipe

  • Author: Thirsty Bartenders
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Description

Few co*cktails provide better comfort and restoration from the cold as the Hot Toddy. The Hot Toddy is spicy, and aromatic, with floral sweetness intermingling with tart citrus.

Ingredients

  • ½ ounce honey
  • ½ ounce lemon juice
  • 6 ounces hot water
  • ½ ounce whiskey
  • Cinnamon stick
  • Lemon wheel

Instructions

  1. Pour ½ ounce honey into a mug.
  2. Pour ½ ounce lemon juice.
  3. Carefully pour 6 ounces of hot water.
  4. Stir gently until the honey dissolves.
  5. Pour 1 ½ ounce whiskey.
  6. Garnish with the cinnamon stick and lemon wheel.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 176
  • Sugar: 17g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g

samantha warren2020-04-30T21:08:33+00:00March 21st, 2020|co*cktail Recipes|0 Comments

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Hot Toddy co*cktail Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the ingredients of a hot toddy? ›

To make a hot toddy, you'll need bourbon (which is a type of whiskey), honey, lemons, cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, and whole cloves. Simply combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and honey in a mug and add boiling water (use more or less water depending on how strong you'd like your hot toddy to be).

What is the best alcohol for hot toddy? ›

These days, when it comes to making hot toddies, it's a flexible rubric. Maker's Mark and Jameson are popular choices, but they're far from your only option. Try it with rye, Bourbon, rum, or the brown spirit of your choosing. The best whiskey to use in a hot toddy is the one you have on hand.

How many hot toddies should you have? ›

While the alcohol in one drink is great for falling asleep and feeling refreshed, one too many and the sleep you receive won't be that refreshing at all, and could cause you to wake up the next morning with worse symptoms than you had before. So, stick to one, and you should be good to go.

What alcohol is good for a cold and cough? ›

Mulled wine ranks among the best drinks for soothing sore throat and cough. Red wine with oranges or lemons, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, cardamom, or honey is warmed to serve as a remedy against cold.

Does the alcohol boil off in hot toddy? ›

We like to add the liquor to our hot toddies last. The reason is if we added it first, the boiling water would start to evaporate away some of the alcohol. We have no idea how much, but we paid for full-strength whiskey and we're not prepared to lose any of it to the atmosphere!

Can you drink hot toddy everyday? ›

Furthermore, there's evidence that suggests drinking two hot toddies per day can help relieve cold symptoms such as sore throats and congestion when paired with restful sleep.

Is it bad to have a hot toddy every night? ›

Best consumed in small doses and infrequently, Hot Toddies can only be served as as medicine to those 21 and over, should not replace a medical professional's advice, and are best followed by a tall glass of water, some herbal tea, and plenty of rest and TLC.

What is a hot toddy good for? ›

A hot toddy is a home remedy made from common household ingredients to treat the symptoms of cold and flu. The ingredients are warmed and ingested as a drink to help with sore throat pain, runny nose, and cough. The ingredients for a hot toddy are a combination of lemon or lemon juice, honey, and hot water.

How is toddy prepared? ›

In India and Sri Lanka, coconut palm wine is known as 'toddy,' in Philippines and Mexico as 'tuba,' and in Indonesia as 'tuwak. ' It is an alcoholic beverage obtained by the natural fermentation of a sugar-containing juice from coconut palms and is obtained by tapping the unopened inflorescence of the palm.

Is Scotch or bourbon better for hot toddy? ›

In contrast, using a whiskey like Scotch or Irish whiskey can make the drink lighter, with smoky or honey-like undertones, respectively. So, to sum it up: bourbon gives your hot toddy a warm, smooth, and full-bodied flavor, making it a fantastic choice for those chilly nights.

What's the difference between a hot toddy and a hot whiskey? ›

A hot toddy, also known as hot whiskey in Ireland, and occasionally called southern cough syrup within the Southern United States, is typically a mixed drink made of liquor and water with honey (or in some recipes, sugar), lemon, herbs (such as tea) and spices, and served hot.

Do hot toddies really help a cold? ›

Can Hot Toddies Really Cure Colds? While Hot Toddies have been used for generations as a natural way to combat cold symptoms, there is no definite research to prove that they can replace that bottle of cold medicine once and for all. They do, however, certainly provide comfort.

Why do you drink hot toddy when sick? ›

The ingredients in a hot toddy have been shown to have cough-suppressing properties. Alcohol isn't needed in the recipe to experience these benefits. Consuming warm water, lemon, and honey is the key to symptom relief. Additional items can be added to taste, such as tea, clove, and ginger.

Do hot toddys get you drunk? ›

The hot toddy is not one of those drinks that you down simply to get drunk. It is more of an experience and a way to relax, so its alcohol content may be irrelevant for the most part. However, for the curious drinker, you can expect it to weigh in around 6 percent ABV (12 proof).

What is a hot toddy when you're sick? ›

Experts say yes — sort of. The folklore goes that a hot toddy – the alcoholic drink composed of hot water, lemon juice, honey and whiskey or rum or brandy – can soothe your sore throat or clear your winter cold-induced congestion. And many people are believers.

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