Hot Toddy

Cocktail· Bourbon

Hot Toddy

The Hot Toddy is a hot built cocktail of bourbon or Irish whiskey, honey syrup, fresh lemon juice, and hot water, served in a warm mug with a clove-studded lemon wheel and cinnamon stick. It dates to 18th-century Scotland and is the canonical cold-weather drink for soothing throats and warming the chest. Use water that is hot but not boiling; boiling cooks off the alcohol and turns the lemon flat.

5 min EasyFooted MugBuilt

Ingredients

  • 2 oz bourbon or Irish whiskey
  • 1 oz honey syrup
  • 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 4 oz hot water (not boiling)
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Lemon wheel studded with 3 cloves

Method

  1. Warm a footed mug with hot water; discard.
  2. Add whiskey, honey syrup, and fresh lemon juice.
  3. Top with hot water; do not let it reach a boil.
  4. Stir gently with the cinnamon stick.
  5. Drop in the clove-studded lemon wheel.

Garnish

Clove-studded lemon wheel and cinnamon stick

Pro tip

Use water that is hot but not boiling; boiling water cooks off the alcohol and turns the lemon juice flat.

From the bar

Recipes like this, in your inbox.

One per week. The kind of email worth opening.