If there’s one drink to chase away the winter blues, it’s a homemade hot toddy recipe! This cozy cocktail is a soothing blend of your favorite whiskey, a drop of honey, and a squeeze of lemon juice with hot water. Pre-heating the mug keeps this drink warmer for longer.
Homemade Hot Toddy
Like mulled wine or hot apple cider, few things warm me up on a cold day more than a cozy cocktail. Today’s hot toddy recipe is a quick, 4-ingredient drink. It’s the first thing I make when I feel a cold coming on, and it’s just as satisfying as an after-dinner sip. A hot toddy is made with simmering lemon water, a touch of honey, and a splash of Bourbon whiskey.
If you’re looking for something non-alcoholic to cozy up with, try my matcha latte recipe or this spiced golden milk.
Why I Have This Hot Toddy Recipe On Repeat All Season
- Quick to make. Just 4 ingredients, 5 minutes, and a kettle. You don’t need fancy equipment to make a hot toddy.
- Not too boozy. There’s just enough whiskey (or brandy) in a hot toddy to make it extra warming, but this isn’t a “boozy” cocktail by any means. It’s more of an adult version of a hot lemon and honey.
- Soothing. Nothing soothes a sore throat or takes the chill off like a steamy hot toddy. I like to breathe it in and clear my head before I take the first sip!
What Goes in a Hot Toddy?
- Hot Water – You’ll want to get it simmering hot, but not boiling. Save some of the warm water to preheat the mug.
- Liquor – I use Bourbon, but you could use Irish whiskey or Rye. Brandy and dark rum are another good choice for a classic hot toddy.
- Honey – Or maple syrup, to sweeten things just a little. You can adjust the amount of sweetener to taste.
- Lemon – You’ll need fresh lemon juice and lemon slices for garnish.
- Cinnamon Sticks – For garnish, and you could also use star anise.
Optional: Use Tea as the Base
For an extra-flavorful hot toddy, I’ll occasionally make this recipe with tea as the base instead of hot water. You can choose your favorite herbal tea. I usually use chamomile. Other good choices are hibiscus, ginger tea for a spicy punch, and Rooibos, a type of decaffeinated South African red tea.
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Prepare the mug. Heat some extra water in a kettle (not 1 ½ cups from the ingredients). Add the heated water to the serving cups to warm them up, then discard the water.
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Heat the water. Meanwhile, heat 1½ cups of water in a kettle until it simmers. Divide the water between the heated cups.
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Add the remaining ingredients. In each mug, add the honey and stir until dissolved. Then add the whiskey and lemon juice, stirring until incorporated.
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Finish and serve. Finally, drop in the lemon slices and cinnamon sticks. Serve warm.
- Choose your preferred spirit: You can use whiskey or brandy for this recipe. For the whiskey, you can choose Bourbon, Irish, or Rye. I used Bourbon.
- Warm the mug: Heating the mug is the key to a really comforting hot toddy. A cold mug will cool it down.
- Make it with tea: For extra flavor, you can use tea as a base instead of plain water. I like using chamomile.
- Swap the spice: Instead of cinnamon, you can use star anise.
Serving: 1drink | Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Storing Leftovers
- Store. This recipe makes two single-serving hot toddies, so feel free to make only one if you’re sipping solo. A hot toddy is best drunk right away. That being said, if you have leftovers you’d like to keep, you can store them covered in the fridge until the next day.
- Reheat. To reheat a hot toddy, microwave it in a microwave-safe mug or heat it on the stovetop.