Hot Toddy

The Hot Toddy is a charmingly cozy beverage that is guaranteed to warm you up even on the coldest of nights.  With no definitive recipe, there are many possibilities that change the overall flavor of the beverage.  This take on it consists of bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, and a sweetener thats mixed with hot water steeped with aromatics.  My preference for sweetener in my Hot Toddy is brown sugar for its rich, molasses flavor.  However, honey is often used and something you’re likely to have in your pantry.  If you decide to use a sweetener other than brown sugar, prepare to adjust the amount you use as sweetness is not consistent between them.  In most instances, recipes I’ve come across provide little indication regarding the amount of hot water used; vague directions such as “top the mug with hot water” feel misleading and over simplified.  Last, but certainly not least, are the garnishes.  A clove-studded lemon wheel (or peel) and a cinnamon stick are traditional Hot Toddy accompaniments, however, I enjoy the addition star anise and a torched cinnamon stick.  But don’t take my word for it, make one and try it yourself!

Hot Toddy

In your mug, combine the brown sugar, lemon juice, and bourbon whiskey.

• 1 tsp of Brown Sugar

• 0.25 oz of Lemon Juice

• 1.5 oz of Bourbon Whiskey

• 4 oz of Hot Water

Add hot water to your mug and stir for a few seconds until brown sugar is dissolved.  Garnish with a clove-studded lemon, star anise, and torched cinnamon stick.