Cocktail Party

Hot Toddy

by:
September 10, 2021
5
2 Ratings
Hot Toddy
Photo by ROCKY LUTEN
  • Prep time 3 minutes
  • Cook time 3 minutes
  • Makes Makes 2
Author Notes

In my digging to understand what makes a hot toddy a hot toddy to people, the most common response I got was that it must “be hot.” (That’s it? Really?)

So, already back to square one, I went in search of the definition of “toddy.” Some think the drink was invented by 17th-century Scottish doctors, who only recommended the addition of honey, lemon, and spices to help the medicinal, numbing Scotch go down a bit easier. Others trace the drink’s origins through its name—toddy being an Anglicization of the Hindi taddy, which translates to “drink made of fermented palm sap.” Armed by these two definitions (as well as many, many other dubious-sounding ones), I synthesized the hot toddy as: a hot beverage largely featuring the brackish, asphalt-punch of Scotch, with just enough lemon, honey, and hot water to make it feel cozy.

In order to drive that fuzzy feeling home, many versions of the drink will also include black tea and spices—but they don’t have to. In my various tests, I found it was hard to enjoy both the tea and the whiskey; both have such strong flavor profiles that they would compete when blended. But, for a non-alcoholic hot toddy that’s still interesting, you can simply replace the whisky with some strong-brewed Lapsang Souchong. Bold and smoky, this tea will provide the necessary body and tannic backbone that separates a hot toddy from a hot-lemon-water.

And returning to the original query: Please do pre-warm your mug in some way (fill it up with boiling water, let sit for a few minutes, then pour the water out), or drink from an insulated travel mug if you can. Cold toddies have their time and place, but this is not it.

Lastly, a note about garnish: A clove-studded lemon wheel or wedge is cute and certainly a possibility, but I’ve always been of the camp that believes if you can’t—or don’t want to—eat your drink garnish, then what’s the point? Save yourself the effort, and save that lemon for a future toddy.

Controversial, I know. Are you team Scotch or whiskey? Lemon wheel or none? Let us know in the comments.

Helpful tools for this recipe:
- Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Pour-Over Kettle
- OHOM Self-Heating Ceramic Mug
- Chef'n Citrus Juicer


—Coral Lee

What You'll Need
Watch This Recipe
Hot Toddy
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 ounces Scotch or whiskey
  • 3/4 ounce (1 tablespoon) honey
  • 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
  • 3 1/2 ounces boiling water
  • 1 Lapsang Souchong tea bag (optional; see note)
Directions
  1. In a warmed mug, combine the Scotch, honey, and lemon juice. Top off with the water. If using tea, add the bag now and let steep for 3 minutes; discard the bag. Stir gently and serve.
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  • Coral Lee
    Coral Lee
  • Glyman
    Glyman
  • Leslie VB
    Leslie VB
  • JudiAU
    JudiAU

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6 Reviews

Glyman
Glyman June 27, 2022
Come to think of it, you can leave out the hot water, lemon juice and honey. Hahahaha
 
Glyman
Glyman June 27, 2022
I heard in an Irish song to add cloves. Been doing this with bourbon. Really helps .
 
Leslie V.
Leslie V. January 31, 2020
Looking for the NOTE....where is it ??.
1 Lapsang Souchong tea bag (see note)
Thank you.
 
Coral L.
Coral L. January 31, 2020
Hi Leslie! Note is: "But, for a non-alcoholic hot toddy that’s still interesting, you can simply replace the whisky with some strong-brewed Lapsang Souchong. Bold and smoky, this tea will provide the necessary body and tannic backbone that separates a hot toddy from a hot-lemon-water."

So, in short, if you'd like to make a non-alcoholic version, I recommend brewing a bag of Lapsang Souchong in the boiling water, and omitting the Scotch. (But, we also tested Lapsang tea *in addition* to the Scotch, which was yum.)
 
Leslie V.
Leslie V. January 31, 2020
Oh my no I want the Scotch.. :) Just looking for the reference to the Tea. thanks..
 
JudiAU
JudiAU January 7, 2020
I love a good toddy. I do like a soggy lemon as garnish and a sprinkle of cinnamon is indefensible.