Classic Hot Toddy Recipe

With winter right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start brushing up on cocktails like the hot toddy that can keep you warm on the coldest nights. This cocktail requires a few simple ingredients, but sometimes the simplest things in life are the best.

Hot toddies, or hot totties, are perfect for unwinding after a long day at work or as a nightcap. They are also great for sharing a drink with friends or playing cards. Alternatively, you can also serve them at your next holiday party.

Keep reading to learn how to make a delicious hot toddy in a few simple steps.

What Is a Hot Toddy?

Traditionally made with whiskey, honey, lemon, and hot water, people used a hot toddy for centuries as a cold and flu remedy. The origins of the hot toddy are unclear, but many believe it originated in Scotland.

The combination of warm water, honey, and lemon is soothing for your throat and mouth. These ingredients also contain vitamins and minerals that are helpful for your recovery from a cold or flu. The alcohol will help numb any pain you are experiencing. It would be best if you did not consume hot toddies in excess when you are sick, but one can help you feel better.

But even if you’re feeling healthy, the combination of warm and soothing ingredients makes it the perfect cozy drink to curl up with during winter.

Classic Hot Toddy Recipe

The combination of warm water, honey, and lemon is soothing for your throat and mouth. These ingredients also contain vitamins and minerals that are helpful for your recovery from a cold or flu. The alcohol will help numb any pain you are experiencing. It would be best if you did not consume hot toddies in excess when you are sick, but one can help you feel better.

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Course Beverage

Cuisine Scottish

Servings 1

Calories 130 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1½ cups Whiskey or bourbon
• 1 Tbsp Honey
• 1 Tbsp Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 8 oz Hot water

Instructions

 

• Bring the water to a simmer in a teapot or saucepan. Once the water is hot, pour it into a mug.
• Add the 1.5 ounces of whiskey, two teaspoons of lemon juice and two teaspoons of honey to the mug and stir vigorously. You must continue stirring until the honey completely dissolves.
• Taste the hot toddy and add more honey or lemon juice. Add honey if you want it sweeter, and add lemon if you want it to have a more sour kick.
• Garnish your drink with optional cinnamon sticks, cloves or orange/apple slices.

Keyword best scotch, hot toddies, hot toddy, hot totties

Tips & Tricks for Classic Hot Toddy Recipe

Want to enhance this classic cocktail? Here are some tips and tricks.

Perfect the Lemon and Honey Mix

The trick to making the perfect hot toddy is adjusting the lemon juice and honey mix. No two lemons are the same, and different varieties can be sweeter or sourer. Tinker with these two variables until you have the perfect sweet-and-sour combination. Don’t be afraid to experiment to find the ideal ratio for your taste buds. 

Choose the Right Whiskey/Scotch

Hot toddys are a favorite of whiskey and scotch drinkers. There is no best scotch or best whiskey for making hot toddies, as it is primarily up to personal preference. You want to select something you enjoy drinking, preferably something smooth that doesn’t have an overwhelming flavor.

Infuse Your Alcohol

If you want to take your hot toddy to the next level, try infusing your alcohol with various herbs and spices. If you soak your cinnamon, cloves, allspice, or ginger in the alcohol of your choice, it will infuse the natural flavors of the species into the liquor. This step takes some additional time, but it is worth it.

Add Apple Cider Vinegar

If you want additional health benefits, try adding a splash of apple cider vinegar to your hot toddy. The vinegar adds a nice kick balanced out by the sweetness of the honey and the smoothness of the whiskey or scotch. Apple cider vinegar has a long list of health benefits but go easy with it. Too much vinegar can ruin your drink.

Add Some Tea

Tea is an excellent way to add some complexity to your hot toddy. Experiment with your favorite teas. A chamomile tea is perfect for a nightcap, while a ginger tea can make a hot toddy the ideal digestif.

Make Large Batches

If you want to make hot toddies for your next holiday party, this cocktail is easy to make in large batches. Mix all the ingredients and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When your guests arrive, put the hot toddy mixture on the stove and warm it up in a large pot. Serve it using a spoon to your happy guests.

If you want to dress up your hot toddy, slice lemons and put several cloves in each lemon slice. Put the lemon slice in the mug and pour the hot liquid to release the clove oils. Finish by grating some nutmeg on top of the bug and garnish with a stick of cinnamon to use as a stirrer.

Additional Tips and Tricks:

Here are some additional tips and tricks:

1. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute the whiskey or bourbon with apple cider.
2. You can make this delightful drink vegan by using maple syrup instead of honey.
3. Feel free to experiment with different types of liquor, such as rum or brandy.
4. You can also add a bit of ginger for warmth and spice.

Nutrition Information of Classic Hot Toddy Recipe

One serving of this hot toddy recipe (made with whiskey) has approximately 130 calories and 11 grams of sugar. It also contains vitamin C from lemon juice and some antioxidant properties from honey and cinnamon (if added).

Conclusion

Now you know how to make a hot toddy that keeps the cold away and helps soothe the worst cold. This hot toddy recipe is easy to make and requires just a few simple ingredients. It’s the perfect drink to warm up with on cold winter nights.

So cozy up, pour yourself a hot toddy, and enjoy its warmth and comfort. Remember to make them at your next holiday party too. Cheers!