Hot toddy―a comforting drink that’ll keep you warm on a cold, wet day. Read the Tastessence article to find 6 different ways to make the perfect hot toddy drink every time.
Did You Know?
Will Faulkner, an American writer and a Nobel Prize honoree, liked to have hot toddy as medicine on a cold winter night.
In Ireland, a hot toddy is a mixed drink made with hard liquor such as whiskey, rum, gin, bourbon, etc., combined with water, sugar, and certain spices. Traditionally, this drink is consumed either before going to bed, to relieve the symptoms of cold and flu, or in wet, cold weather. As the drink is quite old, there are a few theories regarding its origin. One theory suggests that hot toddy gets its name from another drink popular in India which is made from the fermenting sap of palm trees.
Regardless of the cloudy past, in today’s time, the drink has several variations that can change its flavor altogether. Keeping that in mind, we have compiled a few recipes, 6 to be exact, that are nothing short of an experiment to help you find one that you can enjoy.
Hot Toddy Drink Recipes
1. Traditional Hot Toddy
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 5 min
Serving Size: 1 mug
- Hot water, 3 oz.
- Whiskey, 2 oz.
- Lemon juice, fresh, 1 oz.
- Honey, 2 tsp.
- Whole cloves, 5
- Cinnamon stick, 1
- Lemon wedge, 1
Directions
First of all, boil half a cup of water in a pot. Take an Irish coffee mug, and coat the bottom with 2 tsp. honey. Add whiskey along with lemon juice, and swirl the mug to combine the ingredients properly. Next, you will poke whole cloves into the lemon wedge, and add it in the mug along with the cinnamon stick. Once the water is ready, pour it into the mug and stir properly. Let the drink sit for a couple of minutes, remove the cinnamon stick and lemon wedge, and serve the drink immediately.
Apart from whiskey, you can substitute it with other liquors―Scotch, Irish whiskey, brandy, and spiced rum. Also, instead of adding a slice or wedge of lemon, you can use either the zest or the rind.
2. Hot Tea Toddy
Prep Time: 3 min
Cook Time: 5 min
Serving Size: 1 mug
- Boiling water, 1½ cups
- Scotch, 1½ oz.
- Honey, 1 tbsp.
- Irish breakfast tea bag, 1
- Slice of lemon, 1
- Cinnamon stick, ½
- Nutmeg, ground, a pinch
Directions
In a ceramic coffee mug, place the tea bag and pour enough boiling water to fill the mug. Let the tea steep for at least 4―5 minutes; remove the tea bag. In an Irish coffee mug, pour honey and Scotch along with the cinnamon stick. Pour the freshly-brewed tea on top, sprinkle nutmeg, and serve the drink.
3. Ginger-Lemon Hot Toddy
Prep Time: 4 min
Cook Time: 6 min
Serving Size: 2 mugs
- Water, 2 cups
- Lemon juice, ¼ cup
- Golden rum, 4 tbsp.
- Brandy, 4 tbsp.
- Honey, 3 tbsp.
- Candied ginger, ¾ tbsp.
- Ginger, peeled and cut into ¼” slices
- Lemon rind, 2
Directions
In a pot, boil water with lemon juice, honey, candied ginger, and ginger slices for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, pour 2 tbsp. of golden rum and brandy, each, in 2 separate mugs. Once the water begins to boil, strain even quantity of liquid into the 2 mugs. Garnish with lemon rind, and serve the drink immediately.
4. Apple-Ginger Hot Toddy
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 5 min
Serving Size: 1 mug
- Ginger-infused apple cider, 6 oz.
- Bourbon, 2 oz.
- Honey, 1 tsp.
- Ginger, peeled and chopped, 1 piece
- Slice of lemon, 1
Directions
To prepare the cider, bring apple cider to a boil in a pot. Add ginger slices (depending on how strong you want it) as soon as the cider begins to boil. Turn off the heat and remove the pot off the stove, and set it aside for half an hour. Next, pour the bourbon and honey in an Irish coffee mug. Pour the ginger-apple cider on top, garnish with a slice of lemon, and serve the drink.
5. Cappuccino-style Hot Toddy
Prep Time: 2 min
Cook Time: 5 min
Serving Size: 4 mugs
- Milk, 1.3 liters
- Malt powder, 4 tbsp.
- Sugar, 3 tbsp.
- Whiskey, 9 oz.
- Vanilla pods, scored and seeds scraped out, 2
Directions
In a pot, heat the milk over low-medium heat. Whisk in the malt powder, sugar, whiskey, and vanilla pods along with the seeds. Use an electric cappuccino frother or a whisk to make froth on top. Once the mixture is hot, not boiling, remove the pot off the heat and strain the drink in 4 different mugs.
6. Hot Orange Toddy
Prep Time: 8 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Serving Size: 8 mugs
- Apple cider, 3 cups
- Orange juice, 2 cups
- Cranberry juice, 1 cup
- Dark brown sugar, ½ cup
- Pumpkin pie spice, 1 tsp.
- Orange, sliced, 1
- Cinnamon stick, 1
Directions
In a pot, combine the apple cider, orange juice, cranberry juice, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, orange slice, and cinnamon stick together. Bring the ingredients to a boil on medium-low heat. Once the mixture is ready, strain the drink in 8 separate mugs, and serve immediately.
* To spike the drink, add 1 cup spiced rum and 1 cup whiskey to the recipe.
As you can see, this mixed drink is a perfect companion at the end of a long, tough day. One steaming glass of hot toddy, and all the troubles will be left behind. It’s a drink to relax your mind, soothe the senses, and bring comfort when you have the flu.
