Hot toddy is a name given to a mixed drink that is served hot. The essential elements are as follows:

Hot liquid -- hot tea, coffee, cocoa, water, etc.
Sweetener -- such as honey, sugar or syrup
Other ingredients that are not necessary, though common:
Spices, generally "brown" spices such as cinnamon or cloves
Citrus, such as lemon or orange
A small quantity of butter
Lemonade can also be used instead of hot water and citrus; this is a modern variant
Despite its name, the hot toddy should not be served too hot. Heat the toddy mixture in a saucepan until just before boiling, and let it cool a few moments before pouring into a mug. Following are several versions of this classic drink.
Easy Hot Toddy For One
1 oz Whiskey or Brandy
1 oz Honey
1/2 Lemon Slice Studded with 2 cloves
1 Cinnamon Stick
Combine the brandy, honey, and lemon slice in a mug or punch cup, and add hot water to fill. Stir with a cinnamon stick, if desired.
Hot Toddy with Whiskey and Brown Sugar
1-1/2 pints Cold Water
2 - 4 tsp Brown Sugar
6 - 10 Cloves
Zest of 1 Lemon
2 or more Shots of Whiskey
1 or 2 Whole Lemons
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to just under a boil. Add juice of half or more lemons, strain off cloves if desired, and enjoy.
Hot Apple Ginger Toddy
6 oz Ginger-Infused Apple Cider
Thin slice of fresh Ginger or one piece of crystallized, Candied Ginger
1 tsp Honey
2 oz Bourbon (Maker's Mark or Jim Beam are preferred)
Slice of Lemon
First Step: Ginger-infuse the cider. Peel and chop the ginger. Bring apple cider to a boil in a non-aluminum pot. Add several slices of cut and peeled ginger when cider boils. Turn heat off and steep for 30 minutes. Purée this mixture in a blender and strain through cheesecloth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Second Step: Make your ginger toddy. Heat your ginger-infused cider, but do not boil. Add bourbon then stir in honey. Pour into a coffee mug and garnish with lemon and ginger slice (or use crystallized ginger).
Now that the weather has turned cold, a hot toddy would be very appropriate.
ReplyDelete