How to make the perfect Hot Toddy

The Dabbler’s Cocktail Correspondent helps you face the New Year by mixing a much-needed winter warmer.

It’s January in England. And everywhere else for that matter. But here, especially, this means cold, dark,  soggy evenings.

Try this recipe as a winter-warmer, a traditional ‘cure-all’ for those seasonal sniffles, or as a delicious digestif.

Start with two bar spoons of honey in a traditional whisky glass.

Add in four drops of bitters, then dilute with 75ml of boiled water. Throw in two slices of lemon, and allow to steep as the liquid cools for two to three minutes.

Next, add in 50ml of bourbon (sweeter than scotch – I always use Makers Mark). Inhale deeply as the whiskey hits the hot solution and your olfactory nerve will think it’s Christmas.

If necessary, add more honey to sweeten to your taste.

Now put your feet up, and enjoy. After all, you’ve been ever so good this year…

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About Author Profile: Will Lowe

willlowe@thedabbler.co.uk'

4 thoughts on “How to make the perfect Hot Toddy

  1. andrewnixon@blueyonder.co.uk'
    January 6, 2012 at 13:07

    Excellent, I can actually make this one! I use the Famous Grouse for hot toddies, so as not to waste decent whisky.

  2. wormstir@gmail.com'
    January 6, 2012 at 13:15

    I need some of this to combat my man flu! Only got a bottle of scotch though

  3. joerees08@gmail.com'
    Joey Joe Joe Jr.
    January 6, 2012 at 17:55

    The Angostora bitters sound a good idea Will, I can’t believe I’ve not tried it in my hot toddys before. In our version we sometimes use ginger, and I’m so used to calling it ‘Lemsip’ that when I’ve offered cold-ridden visitors “a Lemsip”, I forget sometimes they might actually want the dissolvable stuff. On the whole I think the surprise is a pleasant one.

  4. rosie@rosiebell.co.uk'
    January 6, 2012 at 23:15

    I only drink hot toddies when I’ve got a cold, and then wonder why I don’t drink them all through the winter, as a more comforting drink you can’t find. I haven’t tried bitters in one, so will give that a go.

    As Brit says, you don’t use the pricey single malt for a toddy. Grant’s is good for the heat treatment, as is Black Bottle.

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