A Classic Hot Toddy will warm you up and soothe away the winter chill. This cozy drink is simply made with whiskey, honey, lemon, and boiling water.
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Hot or warm cocktails can make a dreary damp day so much more fun and a Hot Toddy is easy to make with simple ingredients.
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What Is a Hot Toddy?
A Hot Toddy is a cocktail you make with whiskey, honey, lemon, boiling water, and sometimes herbs and spices. They are delicious to sip on cold days, to warm you up, as a nightcap to help you relax, or to help soothe a sore throat and stuffy nose.
The origins of this cocktail seem to be ambiguous and difficult to attribute to a single person. Various web sources state that the origins of the Hot Toddy date to the 1600s. However, the name is attributed to both the Hindi word "taddy" meaning "fermented tree sap" and also to an Irish doctor named Robert Bentley Todd who prescribed hot sweetened brandy to his patients. I don't know if any of this is true. But I do know recipes for the Hot Toddy were very popular in the mid-1800s.
My dad's family were pioneer wagon farmers who eventually settled in Oregon and California in the 1840s. In those days doctors were scarce and farming families that were isolated relied on "doctor books" for advice on illness. Like a family bible, these doctor books are passed down in families and I spent many a rainy day reading our copy of ⓵ "Dr. Gunn's". The section on colds and coughs has this to say:
“… take the following pleasant mixture: 1 table-spoonful or more of good Whiskey, and 1 small tea-spoonful of Butter, Sugar, and Nut-meg. Fill the cup full of boiling Water, stir it up altogether, and drink this as hot as you can, and go, after bathing your feet and legs, to bed…”
So it seems over the centuries many people have had many ideas about drinking hot alcoholic beverages for improved health. It may not actually be a cure, but one thing is certain the Hot Toddy is warm and comforting like an old friend.
Why This Recipe Works
This Hot Toddy really will make you feel warm and cozy and even if you are not a fan of strong spirits, the honey and lemon will smooth the flavor of any whiskey.
In this recipe, you can control the amount of sweetness with the honey and balance it with the acidity of the lemon to suit your taste. This is definitely a recipe that you can consider a guideline.
It's cold out today and a toddy sounds really good to me.
So, let's cook!
Ingredient Notes
Here's what you need to make a Classic Hot Toddy:
- Whiskey - Use a whiskey you have on hand. Bourbon is traditional but I like Crown Royal because it is smooth and not terribly expensive. See the section below on substitutions for other options.
- Honey - Use any honey you have on hand. Great choices are clove honey and orange blossom honey.
- Lemon Juice - Fresh lemon is always best.
- Boiling Water - Bring the water to a full rolling boil, which will help the honey dissolve fully.
Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.
How to Make a Classic Hot Toddy
Add the whiskey, honey, and lemon juice to a large mug.
Add one-half of the boiling water and stir well.
Stir in the remaining boiling water and if desired, garnish the hot toddy with a slice of lemon studded with a few whole cloves and a cinnamon stick.
You may need to let the toddy cool a bit before taking the first sip.
My Top Tip
♡ The most important thing is to use a spirit that you like. Just because bourbon is the traditional whiskey for a hot toddy doesn't mean you can't use another spirit.
You can use any whiskey, brandy, gin, vodka, or even tequila and because you are mixing the drink with honey and lemon they don't have to be expensive top-shelf or allocated liquors.
Substitutions & Variations
- Use Scotch Whiskey. Scotch Whiskey can have a strong medicinal flavor that can be appealing when you are under the weather. You may need to add a little more honey for this choice.
- Use Brandy. Brandy is a spirit made from grapes that has a fruity flavor and may be slightly sweet. Brandy was a favorite spirit in my family for Hot Toddies and also for Tom & Jerry.
- Use Spiced Rum. Spiced rums have the flavors of sweet baking spices with vanilla and sometimes a hint of citrus. The flavor of a good spiced rum is delicious in this drink and is my second favorite next to a Canadian Whiskey like Crown Royal.
- Use Other Spirits. Although uncommon to use in a hot toddy, you can also make an excellent hot toddy with gin, vodka, or tequila.
When there is a chill in the air there is nothing like a hot toddy to warm you up from the inside and put a smile on your face.
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⓵ Gunn’s New Family Physician, by Dr. John C. Gunn, 1864
📖 Recipe
Classic Hot Toddy
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ Ounces Whiskey, 3 Tablespoons
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- 2 Teaspoons Lemon Juice
- ¾ Cup Boiling Water
Garnish
- Lemon Slice with Whole Cloves
- Cinnamon Stick
Instructions
- Add the whiskey, honey, and lemon juice to a large mug.1 ½ Ounces Whiskey, 1 Tablespoon Honey, 2 Teaspoons Lemon Juice
- Add one-half of the boiling water and stir well.¾ Cup Boiling Water
- Stir in the remaining boiling water and if desired, garnish the hot toddy with a slice of lemon studded with a few whole cloves and a cinnamon stick.Lemon Slice with Whole Cloves, Cinnamon Stick
Notes
Nutrition
Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
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This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice.
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