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Fight off the winter chill with my easy Hot Toddy recipe! Using simple ingredients, you can learn how to make a hot toddy you'll want to enjoy every year in just five minutes. Complete with a blend of lemon, honey, cinnamon, and chest-warming whiskey, this cozy hot toddy drink is a must-have for winter gatherings!
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What is a Hot Toddy?
A Hot Toddy, sometimes referred to as a hot whiskey or its misnomer "hot tottie", is a hot mixed drink combining warm spices such as cinnamon with honey, lemon, and whiskey.
Hot Toddy Drink
This winter, I got back into enjoying Hot Toddies. They're a comforting drink perfect for sipping from a steaming mug by the fireplace. Piping hot and flavored beautifully with fresh lemon juice, rich honey, warming spices and a splash of just enough whiskey to give it soothing finish, it's comfort in a cup!
What you'll love learning about this Hot Toddy recipe is how easy it is to make. It's a simple, cozy drink that takes only water, liquor, lemon, honey, and spices like star anise, clove, ginger or cinnamon to make.
Not only is it easy, but Hot Toddies are the perfect winter drink. Thanks to the combination of soothing honey with lemon, warm spices, and whiskey, this is an ideal drink for warming up. Leave out the whiskey (which is hard on the stomach) and it's perfect for soothing a sore throat, too! Grab your favorite mug and let's enjoy a glass together!
Hot Toddy Ingredients
- Water: If you want a more fruity drink, you can use orange juice instead of water, and leave out the lemon juice.
- Whiskey: Irish Whiskey is the classic choice for this drink, but you can also use scotch, dark rum, brandy, or bourbon.
- Honey: For a twist, add a flavored honey like clover or orange blossom.
- Lemon juice: This must be fresh-squeezed. The bottled stuff just won't do!
- Lemon slices: Optional, but adding a nice slice to the drink looks lovely!
- Cinnamon stick or star anise: Pop these in at the end for garnish and to slowly imbue the drink with flavor! You can also use ginger or gloves.
How to Make a Hot Toddy
- Add the water to a saucepan over medium heat, and allow to come to a simmer. Once hot, pour the water into a mug. You can also use an electric kettle.
- In the same mug, add the whiskey, honey, and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water, and taste. Add more honey if it needs to be sweeter, or more lemon for extra zing.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and a cinnamon stick or star anise pod, and enjoy!
Easy Hot Toddy Recipe Tips
- Let the water get nice and hot before adding it to your mug. This drink benefits from being piping hot!
- For extra spiced flavor, you can add the anise or cinnamon directly to the pot of water and let them simmer for a little while. Add in whole cloves, fresh sliced ginger, or a splash of maple syrup for even more flavor!
- There are so many ways to make this drink your own. Add a bag of ginger tea, change up the spices, or use a flavored whiskey.
- ⚠️Do not drink alcohol while you're on medication for colds and the flu!⚠️ Alcohol can react poorly with medication and cause all sorts of problems. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure that it's safe to drink.
Can I make a non-alcoholic Hot Toddy?
Yes! You can make a Hot Toddy without alcohol by leaving out the whiskey. Some people use only boiled water when making a non-alcoholic Hot Toddy, but I recommend adding a bag of tea, such as Black Tea or Earl Grey, similar to my Medicine Ball Tea.
You can also use apple cider, which will give the drink a lovely fruity flavor. Make sure to serve the drink nice and hot! The great thing about alcohol-free Hot Toddies is they have all the same hot toddy benefits of soothing lemon and honey, making them perfect for kids with the sniffles!
Hot Toddy Recipes FAQ
You can absolutely make a Hot Toddy with different types of alcohol! Whiskey is the classic, but they're equally delicious with rum. Rum hot toddies have a heavier spice flavor and more fruity taste perfect for pairing with rich desserts.
No. Hot toddies are alcoholic drinks, and the alcohol in the whiskey will not boil off. Even if you add the alcohol to the pan to boil, it will not meaningfully reduce the alcohol content enough for it to be considered a virgin drink. See my tips above for making an alcohol-free hot toddy.
While historically made with imported beer, the classic alcohol of choice for the typical Hot Toddy is Irish Whiskey. It has just the right flavor profile to complement lemon and honey!
I would not recommend a classic hot toddy for a cold, unless you leave out the alcohol. Alcohol, and especially whiskey, can actually aggravate sore throats and dampen your immune system. If you're feeling sick, leave out the whiskey and enjoy a non-alcoholic version!
Storing Leftover Hot Toddies
- Fridge: Leftover hot toddy can easily be stored in the fridge in a jar or other airtight container. Over time, the alcohol will start to break down, so be sure to drink it within the next 1-2 days.
- Reheating: Hot toddies can be reheated on the stove until steaming. Don't boil them, as boiling can cause the lemon juice to start mellowing out, losing some of its bite and fresh flavor.
Cozy Winter Recipes
- Ham and Potato Soup
- Chick-fil-A Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Hungarian Mushroom Soup
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
My favorite meal to pair with a hot toddy is a warm and cozy bowl of soup! Try out these delicious, easy soup recipes and trust me, you'll be coming back to them year-round.
If you enjoyed the recipe, leave a comment and a rating below!
Hot Toddy
Equipment
- Saucepan or electric kettle
- Mug
Ingredients
- 1 cup Water
- 2 oz Whiskey
- 3 teaspoons Honey
- 2 teaspoons Lemon juice - freshly squeezed
- 1 Lemon slice
- 1 Cinnamon stick - or Star Anise pod, optional
Instructions
- Add the water to a saucepan over medium heat, and allow to come to a simmer. Once hot, pour the water into a mug. You can also use an electric kettle.1 cup Water
- In the same mug, add the whiskey, honey, and freshly squeezed lemon juice.2 oz Whiskey,3 teaspoons Honey,2 teaspoons Lemon juice
- Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water, and taste. Add more honey if it needs to be sweeter, or more lemon for extra zing.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and a cinnamon stick or star anise pod, and enjoy!1 Lemon slice,1 Cinnamon stick
Notes
- Let the water get nice and hot before adding it to your mug. This drink benefits from being piping hot!
- For extra spiced flavor, you can add the anise or cinnamon directly to the pot of water and let them simmer for a little while. Add in whole cloves, fresh sliced ginger, or a splash of maple syrup for even more flavor!
- Irish Whiskey is the classic choice for this drink, but you can swap it out for scotch, dark rum, brandy, or bourbon.
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