I love a good hot toddy. A classic version is usually made of just four ingredients: hot water, whiskey or bourbon, lemon, and honey.
It’s a pretty light cocktail that you can sip slowly and warm yourself with. A great option for the cold winter months.
A hot toddy tastes like a slightly sweeter version of whatever spirit you use to make it. So, use a whiskey, bourbon, or rum that you enjoy sipping as the flavor will come through.
Also, since hot water is a large component of this cocktail, I like to use filtered water. Basically, if you don’t love the flavor of your tap water you might want to figure out an alternative (like getting a filter) because you likely will taste it in a hot toddy.
I have a specific order I like to add the hot toddy ingredients in as it makes the process a little easier. First, I add the whiskey and honey to a mug, then I pour in the hot water (and give that a couple stirs to make sure the honey dissolves) then I add lemon. That’s it!
You can heat your water to boiling if you like (or use a tea kettle), but my kettle has a temperature reader on it and I tend to use water around 140°F to 150°F. This is hot, but not boiling hot.
I like to be able to sip my hot toddy almost immediately after making it.
What are the ingredients of a hot toddy?
Hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon.
Since it’s so simple, use good tasting water and a whiskey (or bourbon, or rum) that you like sipping. I like Maker’s Mark, but there are lots of options.
Maybe you want to spice things up? Here are some things I sometimes mix into a simple hot toddy:
- tea—any flavor that goes well with the spirit you are using (I like things like lemon, ginger, or cinnamon)
- apple cider mix
- oranges or other citrus besides lemon
- cinnamon sticks
- spices like nutmeg or turmeric
Need more hot toddy recipes?
After a cold day, I love a hot toddy! Cheers. xo. Emma.
P.S. Check out 40 Fun Cocktails to Make at Home for more recipes!
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces whiskey (or bourbon)
- 1 cup hot water
- 2 teaspoons honey
- lemon
Instructions
- Add the whiskey and honey to a mug.
- Add the hot water. I like to heat the water to between 140°F to 150°F, but whatever you usually make hot tea at is fine.
- Stir so the honey dissolves.
- Add a lemon slice.
I feel a bit of a sore throat coming on, so I made my first hot toddy today. So simple and so delicious! This is my new favorite.
This has become my go-to hot toddy recipe. Ultimate cozy! And the “cinnamon stick through a slice of lemon” trick makes me feel very put together on a cold day. Thanks, ABM!
And happy birthday month, Elsie 🙂
I just made my first hot toddy of the season- now it feels like fall!
The most cozy cocktail of all time
This recipe is so simple and I think it’s great in a cold day.
Also perfect for when you feel a cold coming on. It will kick it to the curb in no time.
Agree. I’m not saying it’s medicine. But, when I have a mild sore throat this does feel nice.
This looks delicious and the presentation is SO cute! Can’t wait to try it!
Arin | www.happilyinpired.com
Honey is such a great ingredient!
Something small that can make a big impact in the long run: we can all try to buy the honey we need from a local beekeper who works in a sustainable way. I guess there are certification systems for this in the U.S., too.
This looks super good and warming on a cold winter’s day! Thank you for sharing the recipe, can’t wait to try it out! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Does anyone know where those cups are from? SO cute.