One of the things I most look forward to in the year is slowing things down come December and enjoying what the start of winter has to offer. I take time to breathe in the cool air, smell the distant scent of a wood fire, and of course, enjoy all the foods and drinks of the season.
There's plenty of food that I love making when it's cold out, but instead of that, I'm going to focus on a drink in this post instead. Now before you close this tab and return to browsing quizzes on Buzzfeed or scrolling through Reddit, indulge me for a moment. One of my favorite drinks of the season is a steaming hot toddy. You know, that hot alcoholic drink in a mug you remember your parents, uncles, and aunts often drinking after dinner and subsequently fall asleep on the couch to? That one.
Despite it’s old-folks reputation and association, the hot toddy is a killer drink. Warming, sweet, and akin to a fleece throw blanket wrapped around a golden retriever in front of a fireplace level of cozy, you should be making one tonight and again all winter long.
Let’s look at how
There's plenty of food that I love making when it's cold out, but instead of that, I'm going to focus on a drink in this post instead. Now before you close this tab and return to browsing quizzes on Buzzfeed or scrolling through Reddit, indulge me for a moment. One of my favorite drinks of the season is a steaming hot toddy. You know, that hot alcoholic drink in a mug you remember your parents, uncles, and aunts often drinking after dinner and subsequently fall asleep on the couch to? That one.
Despite it’s old-folks reputation and association, the hot toddy is a killer drink. Warming, sweet, and akin to a fleece throw blanket wrapped around a golden retriever in front of a fireplace level of cozy, you should be making one tonight and again all winter long.
Let’s look at how
What is a hot toddy?
A hot toddy, in case you didn’t figure it out by now, is a hot cocktail. A hot cocktail may seem odd compared to the now more common, chilled drinks we love, but back in the day when the cocktail was in its infancy, learning to crawl, and starting to put whatever was in its grasp into its mouth, most were served this way. I'm not going to dive into the history of hot versus cold drinks, but if you want to learn more about this period, I highly recommend reading Imbibe! by David Wondrich - a great book for history lovers that details the history of the cocktail, including the toddy. Aaaannnnyyyyways….
To make one, you will only really need 4 things -
Any matter of brown liquors can be toddied by following the steps below. I’m a bourbon boy myself, but if you fancy yourself a nice golden rum, Irish whiskey, or scotch, you do you.
A hot toddy, in case you didn’t figure it out by now, is a hot cocktail. A hot cocktail may seem odd compared to the now more common, chilled drinks we love, but back in the day when the cocktail was in its infancy, learning to crawl, and starting to put whatever was in its grasp into its mouth, most were served this way. I'm not going to dive into the history of hot versus cold drinks, but if you want to learn more about this period, I highly recommend reading Imbibe! by David Wondrich - a great book for history lovers that details the history of the cocktail, including the toddy. Aaaannnnyyyyways….
To make one, you will only really need 4 things -
- Brown liquor - ex. Bourbon, Scotch, Whiskey, or Rum
- Lemon
- Honey or Brown Sugar
- Boiling water
Any matter of brown liquors can be toddied by following the steps below. I’m a bourbon boy myself, but if you fancy yourself a nice golden rum, Irish whiskey, or scotch, you do you.
Recipe: Hot Toddy
Serves: 1, repeat as necessary
Ingredients:
Directions:
***1 tablespoon of honey makes for a moderately sweet drink - not sugary, but sweet. Feel free to start with 2 teaspoons if you prefer a less-sweet drink and add more as necessary
Cheers!
Serves: 1, repeat as necessary
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz. Bourbon, Scotch, Whiskey, or Rum
- ½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Tablespoon honey or packed brown sugar*
- 4-6 oz. boiling water
- Lemon peel to garnish - optional
Directions:
- Building your drink directly in a ceramic mug or heat-proof cup
- Add honey or brown sugar, lemon juice, and liquor to the mug
- Pour in boiling water to taste
- Mix until sugar is dissolved - garnish with a thin slice of lemon or lemon peel if desired
***1 tablespoon of honey makes for a moderately sweet drink - not sugary, but sweet. Feel free to start with 2 teaspoons if you prefer a less-sweet drink and add more as necessary
Cheers!
