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.
Table of Contents
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’s a hot toddy made of?
The traditional recipe calls for 4-ingredients:
- Whiskey – Or, use your favorite dark colored spirit – brandy, rum, bourbon or whiskey are all great choices. Applejack brandy is another delicious option. Read more about Bourbon vs. Whiskey here.
- Hot Water
- Lemon
- 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!
Hot Toddy 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.
Erin’s favorite way 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 for a cold?
- 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
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Full Recipe
Hot Toddy (with Variations!)
Ingredients
- 1 ounce whiskey
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup boiling-hot water
To Garnish
Instructions
- Put whiskey, honey, and lemon juice in a 6-ounce mug. Top off with hot water and stir until honey is dissolved.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and/or star anise, if desired.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
This authentic hot toddy recipe was originally published in 2015. It was updated in 2020 to add new information and photographs.
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