A hot toddy is a cozy addition to fall and winter. You may be most familiar with the basic hot toddy recipe, but there's a whole wide world of variety and options when it comes to this comforting beverage. When you're no longer interested in a cold drink and want to pump up the snug factor, whip up a hot toddy recipe.
Classic Hot Toddy
The basic hot toddy comes together pretty quickly. The hardest part is boiling the water.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce honey
- Hot water to top off
- Lemon wedge, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the whiskey, lemon juice, honey, and hot water.
- Stir to combine well.
- Garnish with lemon wedge, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon stick.
Black Tea Toddy
Adding black tea to the hot toddy gives a greater depth of flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce honey, to taste
- Hot water
- Black tea
- Lemon wheel and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- Prepare a cup of hot black tea if desired.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the whiskey, lemon juice, honey, and prepared black tea.
- Stir to combine well.
- Garnish with lemon wheel with cloves and cinnamon stick.
Honey Toddy
This hot toddy steps up the sweet, honey flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces honey whiskey
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce honey
- Hot water
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the whiskey, lemon juice, honey, and hot water.
- Stir to combine well.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Ginger Toddy
The ginger syrup gives a spicy zing to the hot toddy. Feel free to play with the amount of ginger syrup to suit your taste.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce ginger syrup
- Hot water
- Lemon wheel and sliced ginger for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the whiskey, lemon juice, ginger syrup, and hot water.
- Stir to combine well.
- Garnish with lemon wheel and sliced ginger.
Rosemary Toddy
The rosemary flavor takes the classic toddy from reliable to upgraded and extra refreshing.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- ¾ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Hot water
- Lemon wedge and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the whiskey, lemon juice, rosemary simple syrup, and hot water.
- Stir to combine well.
- Garnish with lemon wheel and rosemary sprig.
Orange Crush Toddy
This recipe brings the orange flavor instead of lemon, for a softer citrus taste.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce bourbon
- 1 ounce orange vodka
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- Hot water
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the bourbon, vodka, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and hot water.
- Stir to combine well.
- Garnish with orange wedge.
Spiced Toddy
This recipe leans on cinnamon and spiced rum to pack a full flavor of spices.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces spiced rum
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- ¾ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- Hot water
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the spiced rum, lemon juice, cinnamon simple syrup, and hot water.
- Stir to combine well.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Apple Pie Toddy
This recipe takes the hot toddy from its predictable flavor into dessert mode.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce bourbon
- 1 ounce vanilla vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- ½ ounce apple cider
- Hot water
- Apple slice and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the bourbon, vanilla vodka, lemon juice, cinnamon simple syrup, and apple cider.
- Stir to combine well.
- Garnish with apple slice and cinnamon stick.
Old-Fashioned Hot Toddy
Old-Fashioneds are warming and cozy on their own, but as a hot toddy things couldn't be warmer.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 2 dashes angostura bitters
- Hot water to top off
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the bourbon, simple syrup, lemon juice, and bitters.
- Stir to combine well.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
A Twist on Toddy
The classic hot toddy is reliable, but sometimes you need something different. With these as a starting point, you can craft a spectrum of hot toddies to suit your taste or desires. The only thing that's left is to curl up with a blanket.
