Hot Toddy Recipe + Variations on How to Make One

This delicious Hot Toddy recipe is perfect for chilly weather. Learn several variations on how to make a hot toddy – with tea, apple cider, brandy, bourbon, or rum.

Right up there with my other favorite warm drinks like Mulled Cider and Mulled Wine is a classic hot toddy. Give me a warm blanket, a good movie on TV and a mug of this and I’m a happy girl.

What is a Hot Toddy? 

  • Also known as hot whiskey in Ireland, it’s typically a cocktail, served warm, and made of liquor and water with honey, herbs and spices. (Source: Wikipedia)

What is the best alcohol to use?

  • Use your favorite dark colored spirit – brandy, rum, bourbon or whiskey are all great choices. Read more about Bourbon vs. Whiskey here.

When is a Hot Toddy served traditionally?

  • Toddies are traditionally drunk before bedtime, or in the winter to relieve cold symptoms.
THREE MUGS OF HOT TODDIES GARNISHED WITH LEMON SLICES AND STAR ANISE NEXT TO HONEY JAR

Traditionally what’s a hot toddy made of?

The traditional recipe calls for 4-ingredients:

  1. Whiskey
  2. Hot Water
  3. Lemon
  4. Honey

How to make it

  • Add whiskey, honey, and lemon juice to a mug.
  • Top your mug off with hot water.
  • Stir until the honey is dissolved.
  • Enjoy!

Variations

  • With Tea: Use hot tea in place of the hot water (camomile and green tea are delicious)
  • With Brandy: Use brandy, apple brandy, or pear brandy for a yummy flavor twist.
  • With Bourbon: Swap in your favorite bourbon.
  • With Rum: Rum also makes a great stand in for the whiskey.
  • With Apple Cider: Use warm apple cider in place of the hot water.
  • With Cinnamon: Add a pinch of cinnamon, or use cinnamon whiskey.
  • With Maple: Use maple syrup in place of the honey.
  • With Ginger: Add a slice of fresh ginger. This is particularly good if you have an upset stomach.
hand holding mug of hot toddy

How to serve it

  • I like to serve my toddies garnished with a cinnamon stick and/or star anise. Sometimes I’ll also add a lemon slice flecked with cloves.

Does a hot toddy really work?

  • You may be wondering what does a hot toddy do for a cold? It’s said that alcohol dilates the blood vessels, making it easier for mucus membranes to stand up to an infection. That combined with the hot water (or tea), lemon (for Vitamin C), and honey to soothe a sore throat, makes it the perfect drink for when you have a cough or cold.

More winter cocktail recipes

Did you try this hot toddy recipe?

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THREE MUGS OF HOT TODDIES GARNISHED WITH LEMON SLICES AND STAR ANISE NEXT TO HONEY JAR

Hot Toddy (with Variations!)

This delicious Hot Toddy recipe is perfect for chilly weather. Learn several variations on how to make a hot toddy – with tea, apple cider, brandy, bourbon, or rum. 
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Put whiskey, honey, and lemon juice in a 6-ounce mug. Top off with hot water and stir until honey is dissolved.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Sodium: 1mg | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin C: 3.9mg

This recipe was originally published in 2015. It was updated in 2020 to add new information and photographs. 

Check out the web story here.

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