My soothing Old Fashioned Hot Toddy is a delicious combination of oaky, caramel bourbon, blended with honey, swirled around in hot water to truly soothe your soul. With the additional of ground cinnamon and clove, you can up the ante on this delectable drink.
As much as I don’t like to admit it, winter is coming. But on the bright side, it is the perfect time of year for a belly warming bourbon hot toddy to stave off those cold nights.
What is Old Fashioned Hot Toddy?
The Old Fashioned Hot Toddy actually dates back to the 1600s in India when the country was still under British rule. The Hindu word “taddy” translates to fermented palm syrup which was the base of the original beverage. The modern take on the drink uses honey in its place making it more accessible to the average barista.
Jump to:
- What is Old Fashioned Hot Toddy?
- Why You Will Love This Bourbon Hot Toddy
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Old Fashioned Hot Toddy
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Serve a Bourbon Hot Toddy
- What to Serve with Old Fashioned Hot Toddy
- Top Tip
- Frequently Asked Questions About Bourbon Hot Toddy
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Old-Fashioned Hot Toddy Recipe
This was inspired by my Apple Cider Simple Syrup. You may also want to try our Apple Cider Moscow Mule and Apple Cider Old Fashioned.
Why You Will Love This Bourbon Hot Toddy
- Quick and Easy: This is a drink that comes together with few ingredients and little time.
- Tasty: The flavors in this beverage are simple but come together to create something that can help if you’re feeling under the weather or just need a warming libation.
- Minimal Mess: You can make this all in the glass you serve it in, so very little mess required!
Ingredients
It may seem too simple, but all you need is water, honey, bourbon, a pinch of ground cinnamon and clove and some lemon to garnish. Trust me, it’s that easy to do!
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Hot/Warm Water: This will thin out the beverage to stretch that sweetness.
- Honey: A natural sugar to add sweetness, along with its soothing properties.
- Bourbon: This helps to warm up the body while adding additional flavors to the beverage.
- Ground Cinnamon: A warming spice keeping in theme with the drink.
- Ground Clove: Adds more warmth to complement the cinnamon.
- Lemon: A little hit of citrus is a beautiful contrast to the warming flavors and adds a comforting element.
For this easy recipe, you'll want to have on hand a kettle (stovetop or electric) measuring cups and spoons and a heat-safe mug to serve it in.
Substitutions and Variations
Love this recipe but want to make it your own? There is a lot more than you would think to mix up this beverage.
- Dark Rum: Try a hot rum toddy and use a dark, smoky rum.
- Brandy: A brandy hot toddy is another excellent way to add a more fruit forward drink.
- Tequila: A hot toddy with tequila is probably the simplest way to experiment. Tequilas have such a variety of flavors that make the combinations endless.
- Gin: For a more botanical profile, try making a hot toddy with gin.
- Simple Syrup: Use as a sweetener instead of honey (it just won't have the same smoothing qualities).
- Tea: Use a strong full-bodied tea instead of water.
- Orange: Try a thin slice of orange instead of lemon.
- Star Anise: Drop a whole star anise for a deep licorice flavor.
How to Make Old Fashioned Hot Toddy
Get the kettle going to start things off. It is so simple to put together this Hot Toddy recipe.
Bring water almost to a full boil in a kettle, on the stovetop, or in the microwave.
Add the honey and stir until fully dissolved, then pour in the bourbon.
If using, add the ground cinnamon and cloves and stir.
Squeeze half of the lemon into the glass and finish off by dropping in a thinly sliced lemon and a cinnamon stick.
Hint: Fresh lemon juice is a must! It will help to balance the sweetness without being overly acidic like bottled lemon juice can.
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How to Serve a Bourbon Hot Toddy
- Glass: Since you want to enjoy this beverage hot (or as hot as you can safely handle), serve in a heat resistant mug with a handle.
- Drink Garnishes: Extra lemon adds a nice smoothing touch, you can also use whole cinnamon sticks, cloves, or anise star.
What to Serve with Old Fashioned Hot Toddy
- Spiced Cookies: Try a chai or ginger based cookie. Our Spicy Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies is a great pairing.
- Roasted Vegetables: Savory pairings are always a wonderful balance. Try roasted carrots or our Maple Brussel Sprouts.
- Buttery Desserts: Pastries like croissants or scones are an excellent option to serve with this beverage.
Top Tip
Lemon is used to contrast the sweetness with some citrus notes. Orange peels are a great substitution if lemons aren’t available. Simply zest the orange into your glass and add a bit of the orange juice to up the citrus notes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bourbon Hot Toddy
Do you have questions about a Bourbon Hot Toddy?
A warming beverage that consists of hot water, whiskey, honey and lemon. Additional spices can be added to in enhance its warming effect.
Hot beverages have many soothing effects, from removing a chill to aiding in a sore throat.
Whiskey is the traditional way to make a Hot Toddy, but you can play around with the type of liquor you prefer to suit your tastebuds!
More Recipes You Will Love
Check out some more of our recipes you will want to try!
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Old-Fashioned Hot Toddy Recipe
Equipment
- Kettle/Microwave
- Heat-Safe Mug
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 6 ounce water ¾ cup
- 1 ½ tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup bourbon or dark rum
- pinch ground cinnamon optional
- pinch ground clove optional
- 1 lemon divided
Garnish
- cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Bring water almost to a full boil in a kettle, on the stovetop, or in the microwave.
- Add the honey and stir until fully dissolved, then pour in the bourbon.
- If using, add the ground cinnamon and cloves and stir.
- Squeeze half of the lemon into the glass and finish off by dropping in a thinly sliced lemon and a cinnamon stick.
Notes
- For a non-alcoholic version, substitute the bourbon with an herbal tea, such as chamomile.
- Add depth of flavor and extra comfort by steeping a tea bag in the water before adding the other ingredients.
- For a spicier hot toddy, add a few whole cloves or increase the amount of nutmeg.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
Eva says
We drink this recipe one or twice a month in the wintertime, sometimes I make it half strength, but it is great both ways!
Eva Filer says
Thank you for the review.