Ahhh, a classic winter staple–the hot toddy! There’s nothing like a warm cocktail to cozy up with on a chilly winter evening, and this one is super simple to whip up on a lazy night in. This is the perfect elixir for those who don’t have the time or patience to simmer a mulled cider or winter sangria for hours–we’ll show you how!
What’s a Hot Toddy?
The secret to a perfect hot toddy is tweaking the ingredients to your personal taste. The base ingredients are simple: whiskey, honey, and lemon. Since this is such a simple concoction, the ratios of each ingredient are key. Don’t be afraid to play with the measurements, or add in your own extras! A cinnamon stick and a lemon round are the traditional garnishes, but cloves, star anise, or a slice of ginger would be great swap-ins for a spicier take on the traditional hot toddy.
If you’re serving this up at a cozy get-together, we have the perfect accessories to make this simple drink memorable. Read on to the end to see how we pair this warm winter swill with our custom products (like hot cups, obviously!)
What Kind of Liquor Should I use?
Whiskey is the go-to for a classic hot toddy–any kind will do! For a warmer, caramel-y flavor you can substitute bourbon or any dark liquor like rum or brandy. It’s not traditional, but again–this cocktail is all about personal taste! And unlike other classic winter drinks such as mulled wine, the ingredients in a hot toddy are lighter and fresher, so bolder liquors won’t overwhelm the flavor profile. If you’re not a fan of dark liquor, you can always balance out the alcohol with extra honey and warm water.
Ingredients
This drink is super simple and fast to put together. Again, you can play around with substitutions to your liking. For example, try maple syrup instead of honey for a vegan version! Here’s the base ingredients:
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1.5 oz whiskey
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2-3 tsp honey
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2-3 tsp lemon juice
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1 lemon, sliced into rounds
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3-4 cups of hot water
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Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
Recipe
To assemble your hot toddy, first make sure to simmer your water on a stove or in a kettle. You don’t want it boiling hot, so give it some time to cool back down before putting everything together. While the water’s still hot enough to melt the honey, stir in the remaining ingredients. Start with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and honey each, and add more to taste.
To garnish, slice a thin round of lemon and drop this into your toddy along with a cinnamon stick.
Now Dress it Up!
The hot toddy is a great drink to whip up for a last-minute get together, but it can also be dressed up for a fancier winter gathering! To add some flair, put a little extra TLC into the garnish (you’ll notice we speared our lemon rounds with a cinnamon stick!) and serve your drinks with some cute accessories. Of course, we’re partial to our hot cups and cocktail napkins. And if cinnamon sticks aren’t your thing, our customizable stir sticks will do the trick!
