February 7, 2018 / Rachel Eva
The Hot Toddy: warm, delicious, and believed by many to cure everything from a minor cough to the full-blown flu. While whiskey is traditionally the spirit of choice, the Hot Toddy is a decidedly forgiving beverage, and you can easily swap out the spirit for what you have on hand.
Preferably that substitute is something dark, like bourbon, rye, brandy, cognac, or rum, but feel free to experiment. Try warming up a light rum or gin, and see how the hot water opens up the flavors and soothes your winter soul. There aren't really a lot of rules when it comes to Hot Toddies.
Where did the Hot Toddy Originate?
The word "toddy" can be traced back to India in the early 1600's, from the Hindi word tāḍi, and first referenced a drink made from the fermented sap of palm trees.
So, there you go - nothing like rotten palm sap to pave the way for substitutions! The earliest meaning of the word was more general than that, and a toddy was simply any drink made of alcohol, hot water, sugar and spices.
Many claim the Hot Toddy originates with Robert Bentley Todd, an influential Irish physician who readily incorporated innovative new tools into his practice (think: the microscope). He contributed prolifically to medical publications, lectured frequently, and was the first to lay out a specific process for treating severe cases of fever.
Dr. Robert Bentley Todd, often credited with the origin of the Hot Toddy, which he prescribed frequently to patients.
Can a Hot Toddy cure a cold?
Dr. Robert Bentley Todd's diagnoses were often accompanied with a prescription for a drink with "brandy, canella (white cinnamon), sugar syrup and water," so it's no surprise that we still associate the Hot Toddy with medicinal use. Especially during these cold winter months when the flu is at it's worst, and a hot drink on a cold night is just the thing you'd like to prescribe to yourself.
So even though Dr. Todd prescribed brandy, we seem to use Scotch these days (and anyway, he was Irish - so why not add Irish Whiskey to the list?) But consider his practice of prescribing a brandy-based drink as permission to substitute the Scotch.
As for the healing properties of a hot warm drink? If you’re feeling a bit under the weather and a spirited drink would provide a hefty pick-me-up to a gloomy mood or a chill down your back— a Hot Toddy might be just the thing. But if you are physically ill with the cold or flu, skip the spirit for now. A hot warm drink will still do you good, and the whiskey can wait until you’re in better shape.
How to Make a Hot Toddy
Throw it all together and drink it.
Ok, we can be a bit more artful than that. Here's a generally accepted practice:
- Add [sugar/honey/sweet], any other spices or citrus juice, and boiling water to a pre-warmed mug. Stir to dissolve.
- If using tea, steep the tea in the hot water for the recommended time (varies by tea type - read those labels!)
- Add the [scotch/bourbon/rye/rum/brandy/cognac] to the mug, stir to combine
- Garnish with a lemon twist/wheel and/or cinnamon/nutmeg/cloves, or star anise if you're feeling real fancy.
Why Pre-Warm the mug? If you'll be using a room-temperature spirit, you'll want the mug and water to be fairly hot. If you want to warm the alcohol, you certainly can, but keep it in the pot just until warm. If you heat alcohol for too long at high heat, it can begin to lose it's alcohol content. Also, warm mugs are nice.
What's a Good Hot Toddy Recipe?
The essential hot toddy recipe is simple: 1-2 oz of spirit (typically whiskey, rum, brandy, or cognac), 2-4 oz of hot water, 1-2 tsp of sweet (sugar or honey), a dip of a tea bag and a splash of lemon.
It's hard to list just one recipe for a Hot Toddy - since there are so many variations (many regional ones as well), and different folks have different styles. Here's a little guide to help you choose:
Simple Hot Toddy Recipe (no Honey or Lemon)
- 2 oz Scotch Whiskey (or Rum/Bourbon/Rye/Brandy/Cognac)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 cup boiling water
- lemon wheel (optional)
- cinnamon/nutmeg/cloves (optional)
Hot Toddy Recipe for a Cold
If you're feeling a bit under the weather and want the slightly-naughty version of a drink your Mama might make you, here's a lighter version disguising itself as a nighty-night tea:
- 1 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1/2 oz honey (1 TB)
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice (1 TB)
- 1/4 cup boiling water
Dr. Pat's Hot Toddy Recipe with Tea
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tea bag (dark black tea preferred)
- 1/2 oz honey (1 TB)
- 1/4 oz lemon juice (1.5 tsp)
- Lemon wheel garnish
— Sue, a Hot Toddy FAN!
“Okay, so our family doctor suggested this instead of prescription cough syrup for relieving the cold symptoms of the ADULTS in our family... He says the whisky helps you sleep while the honey and lemon soothe your throat. I’m pretty sure it works, but in the end we really don’t care because we love this warm drink when we aren’t feeling well. Even sometimes when we are feeling well!”
Stop reading this already, and put the kettle on the stove!
