Whether you’ve got a cold, cough, or just a case of the winter blues, a Hot Toddy will wrap around you like a warm blanket and soothe your weary bones. Here’s the classic recipe for a delicious hot cocktail you can make all season long.
Healthy or ill, there’s just something about a hot alcoholic drink and an early-to-bed evening. This restorative concoction of hot water, spirits, lemon juice, and spices is easy to whip up and endlessly adaptable with whatever you have on hand.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Bourbon: Or whiskey, spiced rum, Fireball, brandy, vodka, even tequila. Grand Marnier would be amazing if you like oranges. Pick one strong alcohol that you enjoy the taste of, and go from there.
- Honey: Or your preferred sweetener. Sugar, agave nectar, maple syrup, or anything to sweeten up the booze and make it sippable.
- Lemon juice: Or substitute lime juice or even freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice.
- Hot water: Brewed hot tea works, too.
- Garnish: Try a wheel of lemon dotted with a few cloves, an orange peel, a cinnamon stick, grated nutmeg, or candied ginger.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a 6 ounce mug, combine bourbon, honey and lemon juice. Top with hot water.
- Add cinnamon stick and stir until honey is dissolved. Garnish with a slice of lemon and grated nutmeg if desired.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes 1 serving of a delicious, cozy Hot Toddy.
- Warm the mug: Pour some hot water in the mug you plan to use. It will take the chill off of the porcelain and keep the drink hot, longer.
- Improvisation welcome: This drink can be made (and enjoyed) a million different ways. Choose flavors, spices, tea, and garnishes that are complimentary to each other.
- Non-alcoholic: In place of the strong stuff, use apple cider, apple juice, cranberry juice, or strongly brewed tea instead.
- Spices: You can add a few spices of your choosing: cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, allspice, some fresh lemongrass, or a slice of fresh ginger root.
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Hot Toddy
Whether you’ve got a cold, cough, or just a case of the winter blues, a Hot Toddy will wrap around you like a warm blanket and soothe your weary bones. Here’s the classic recipe for a delicious hot cocktail you can make all season long.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon (¼ cup, see note 1)
- 2 tablespoons honey (see note 2)
- 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon (see note 3)
- 1/2 cup hot water (see note 4)
- 1 cinnamon stick for garnish (see note 5)
- lemon slices for garnish
- ground nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
- In a 6 ounce mug, combine bourbon, honey and lemon juice. Top with hot water.
- Add cinnamon stick and stir until honey is dissolved. Garnish with a slice of lemon and grated nutmeg if desired.
Notes
- Bourbon: Or whiskey, spiced rum, Fireball, brandy, vodka, even tequila. Grand Marnier would be amazing if you like oranges. Pick one strong alcohol that you enjoy the taste of, and go from there.
- Honey: Or your preferred sweetener. Sugar, agave nectar, maple syrup, or anything to sweeten up the booze and make it sippable.
- Lemon juice: Or substitute lime juice or even freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice.
- Hot water: Brewed hot tea works, too.
- Garnish: Try a wheel of lemon dotted with a few cloves, an orange peel, a cinnamon stick, grated nutmeg, or candied ginger.
- Yield: This recipe makes 1 serving of a delicious, cozy Hot Toddy.
- Warm the mug: Pour some hot water in the mug you plan to use. It will take the chill off of the porcelain and keep the drink hot, longer.
- Improvisation welcome: This drink can be made (and enjoyed) a million different ways. Choose flavors, spices, tea, and garnishes that are complimentary to each other.
- Non-alcoholic: In place of the strong stuff, use apple cider, apple juice, cranberry juice, or strongly brewed tea instead.
- Spices: You can add a few spices of your choosing: cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, allspice, some fresh lemongrass, or a slice of fresh ginger root.
Nutrition
Serving: 1drinkCalories: 304kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 84mgFiber: 2gSugar: 42gVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
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I made this for my husband when he was sick. It was a hit!
Hi Beth, I’m so glad he loved it. I hope it made him feel better! – Meggan