Hot Toddy
It’s finally raining here, which means it finally feels like Fall. It’s chilly and windy and there are big, fat raindrops running down my windows and I couldn’t be happier. I can finally pull out my jeans and boots and sweaters and bundle up to go out. Then when I get home at the end of the day, I can curl up in my flannel pajamas by the fire and have a hot drink in a nice big mug. During the week, those warm drinks are a cup of tea or a piping hot mug of spiced cider. But on the weekends, I like to add a little alcohol. Sure you could simply add a shot, but why would you when you could just as easily make an alcoholic drink that was just meant to be hot? It even has “hot” in the title. It’s a Hot Toddy.
This is a drink that’s been around for centuries. Today it’s enjoyed as a hot cocktail on a cold winter’s eve, but in its early days it was used to treat the cold and flu. (Actually, there are plenty who still enjoy this remedy for illness today… I’m not mentioning any names though.) The drink is a simple mixture of alcohol, citrus juice, sweetener and hot water, all mixed together and sipped slowly. While the alcohol in this cocktail is usually rum or whiskey, any liquor of your choice is allowed. (While I’ve seen recipes that use tequila, my first choice is bourbon of course.)
Since the cocktail is believed to be from 1700’s Scotland, it was originally made with scotch. Because the scotch of yesteryear had such a harsh, peaty flavor, it is believed that the honey was added to make the drink more appealing to the woman’s delicate palate. If the drink really was created in Scotland, it makes sense that the drink got its name from the Todian Springs in Edinburgh. See, this spring, also called Tod’s Well, was Edinburgh’s main water supply, thereby making it the most likely candidate for where the water used in the cocktail came from.
So this chilly holiday season, do what I do: pull on your favorite flannel PJ’s, curl up with a good book, and have a nice, Hot Toddy.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. bourbon
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 4 oz. hot water
- 1 cinnamon stick
Directions:
- Pour the bourbon, lemon juice and honey into a heat proof mug and stir.
- Add the water and cinnamon stick and stir until combined. Serve immediately.
