Hot Toddy

hot toddy time!

TODDY. It’s a funny word, right? I always feel weird when I say it out loud. If I’ve had enough toddies, the weirdness totally disappears and I might even shout TODDY if given the chance. I can also speak fluent Italian when I’m drinking. We’ll get into that some other time.

hot toddy

It’s toddy season! The weather is cooler and it’s time to get boozy. Bourbon in hot water with lemon, honey & ginger is supreme. I live off these drinks in the winter because they make me feel like I’m wrapped in a fuzzy cashmere blanket and I’m sitting by a fire. Toddies are also great if you’ve got a wicked cold. I like to put ginger in mine to give it an extra health boost.

HOT TODDY. Now say it 5 times fast! Ridiculous, right?

And we’re off!

This is easy. The base is honey & bourbon.

hot toddy

Lemon & ginger enter the picture. Hot water gets poured in. Be careful about inhaling vapors; they’re strong!

hot toddy

Hello warm fuzzy blanket of a cocktail.

hot toddy

I have a feeling we’re going to have a wonderful winter together, little toddy!

Hot Toddy

makes 1 drink

  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 oz. bourbon (or two)
  • 8 oz. hot water
  • cinnamon stick (optional)

Place honey, ginger, the juice of 1 lemon and bourbon into a large mug. Pour hot water on top and let steep for 2 minutes. Serve with a slice of lemon or a cinnamon stick.

Shutterbean Notes-

-I don’t mind a little ginger floating around in my drink. If you do, strain it out! But let it steep in your drink for a few minutes. You’ll like that ginger spike.

-Fresh nutmeg is a great addition. Go for it!

  • meki

    TODDY! TODDY! TODDY! TODDY! TODDY!

    I’ll have this drink and say TODDY as loud as I can, as many times as I can 🙂

  • Kate M.

    Yum! I will have to give this a try.

  • Jessica

    YUMMY! This makes the cold weather not so bad. Can’t wait to curl up in a warm blanket and watch a movie with this drink!

  • Erica

    Looks delicious! I just made a variation of this toddy last night – apple cider (heated with mulling spices), ginger syrup and bourbon. Mmmhmm…it totes gave me the warm-fuzzy-wrapped-in-a- cashmere blanket-feeling. Thanks for posting fantastic recipes AND podcasting with Joy!

  • Katrina

    Yum. I need this!

  • Christianne

    This looks really good. Now, I just need to find out if I like bourbon enough to buy a bottle.

    P.S. Love the Happy Endings reference.

    • Tracy

      oooh! Is that a TV show? Did I reference it? Which part?

      • Christianne

        Yep, it’s called Happy Endings and one episode has a couple of the girls meeting some Italian guys and one of them finds out that she can only speak italian when drunk. I think it airs on ABC in the States. All of the episodes are really funny.

  • Jessica @ The Desert Abode

    Ooh! I’ve always made mine with chamomile tea and rum. I will have to try this! Is it weird that I’m now looking forward to cold season so I can have my first toddy?

    Love your blog (I found it via the Joy the Baker Podcast).

  • kmarie

    going through podcast withdrawal here–when are you and joy making the next one? i’ll make a toddy while i wait 🙂

  • Petra

    Lovely! I completely know what you are talking about – the blanket and stuff! Mmm, mmm, mmm. What an inspiring drink, love this kind of thing. 🙂 Petra

  • melanie

    I only drink TODDIES! when I am so, so congested and/or sick. thanks for making TODDIES! seem pretty at least 🙂 hope you’re feeling better.

  • Mags

    Aw man I’ll have to try this the next time that I’m “sick”. Seems cozy, and I love me some ginger

  • Kimberly

    I have a terrible cold and I was just searching your site yesterday looking for a recipe for a hot toddy because I thought I remembered you mentioning it recently. As soon as I saw this post I threw on outside clothes and hauled my bedraggled, crazy-haired self across the street to Trader Joe’s to pick up some ginger and honey at Trader Joe’s. Let them judge! I’m sipping this wonderful concoction now and, sigh…it’s *exactly* what I needed. Thank you so much!

  • laura k

    I love a good hot toddy. They ARE perfect when you’re sick: the honey soothes your throat, the lemon gives you a little vitamin C boost, and the whiskey knocks you right out so you can get some sleep. These things got me through six winters in Boston.

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  • Sarah

    This recipe looks amazing. I was wondering if you’ve ever made a large batch of this for a party or something, and if so, does it still turn out well?

    • Tracy

      Hmm! Good question! I suppose you need something to keep it warm. Like a crock pot? You could always make a station for people to make their own too.

  • Kacie @ A Collection of Passions

    I’ve also found that you can cut think (peeled) slices of ginger and drop them in. They still give off all the flavor without the floaties. My recipe is here: http://acollectionofpassions.com/blog/kacie-s-hot-toddy It’s very similar to yours. Cheers.

    Kacie

  • Joline

    OMGoodness! I want one of these right now. I am not a big bourbon drinker can you recommend some good brands that won’t break the bank?? BUT i do love drinks with honey, lemon and ginger and the hot factor sounds divine!

  • Jessica

    I went out and bought bourbon and lemonade this past summer because my friend was sick and it was too hot for tea. (we mixed in maple syrup…smitten kitchen’s fault.) Hello, winter equivalent!

    The internet isn’t telling me why “toddy” alone can mean this drink and iced coffee, but I will gladly accept either if there is ever confusion.

  • Yellow08

    Been a while since I left a comment but DH is sick and I have a sore throat 🙁 was in the bed catching up on my fav blogs (saw this post) and I decided to get up and make this for me and DH. Enjoying a cup now (minus the Ginger-I’m out) but still very good!!

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  • Esther

    oh, NOMS! i just had a sip of someone’s the other day and decided i should probably start drinking them.

    i’d also like to try shouting toddy. it sounds fun.

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  • Rebecca

    Toddy is definitely a pretty unique word – I always feel like I’m talking about some kind of old time-y lingerie when I talk about toddies 🙂

    This post SAVED me during an epic cold I had the other week. The thing I adore about these? How versatile they are – having your basic recipe I started to substitute gin for the bourbon, lime juice for the lemon, then rum for the bourbon, then started stuffed handfuls of mint in…basically massive volumes of toddies were consumed that week.

  • Elizabeth @ Coppertop Kitchen

    I’ve got a tickle in my throat, and I’m making this RIGHT NOW. I’ve been dreaming of it all day long.

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