7 Cozy Hot Toddy Recipes to Enjoy This Winter (2024)

FAQs

Does a hot toddy really help a cold? ›

"Hot toddies, as the name implies, are served hot. Heat does wonders for someone when sick. A hot beverage can soothe the throat and can provide someone who has shaking (with) chills the feeling and comfort of a warm hug," Ascher said. The heat also helps to break down and thin out mucus to help clear it from the body.

Irish whiskey, known for its gentle, fruity notes, or wheated bourbons like Maker's Mark, which are milder and sweeter, are ideal choices. These types of whiskey, combined with honey's natural soothing properties and lemon's refreshing tang, create a hot toddy that's both comforting and kind to a sore throat.

Just remember, the recommendation is one hotty toddy before bed. Any more than that and you could wake up feeling worse than when you fell asleep. The recipe for Grandpa's Hotty Toddy is pretty easy.

In contrast, using a whiskey like Scotch or Irish whiskey can make the drink lighter, with smoky or honey-like undertones, respectively. So, to sum it up: bourbon gives your hot toddy a warm, smooth, and full-bodied flavor, making it a fantastic choice for those chilly nights.

Specifically, Crown Royal is a Canadian whisky, and even though this technically uses a bourbon mashbill (64% corn, 31.5% rye, 4.5% malted barley), bourbon can only be made in America. Though the TTB originally approved the label, they reversed their decision and forced the brand to stop using the name 'Bourbon Mash'.

Best consumed in small doses and infrequently, Hot Toddies can only be served as as medicine to those 21 and over, should not replace a medical professional's advice, and are best followed by a tall glass of water, some herbal tea, and plenty of rest and TLC.

From a hot toddy, lemon and honey coat the throat and cut through the unpleasant mucus lingering in the head; cinnamon offers sweet warmth to the beverage, and the bourbon takes a more aggressive approach in combatting congestion.

But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study in 2007 that nailed down the numbers with the magic of the scientific method.

You can use whatever tea you want for a hot toddy, and any full-bodied, flavorful tea that can stand up well to the strong flavors of spirits and lemon is a good option.

Hot toddy is a warming drink combining water, whiskey, honey and lemon juice. It is often drunken as a nightcap and traditionally taken as a remedy to help ease the symptoms of colds and flu.

Which alcohol is best for winter? ›

For a classic drink, try a Hot Toddy made with whiskey or brandy, hot water, honey and lemon. Or, indulge in something more special for winter drinks, like mulled wine—a traditional holiday drink made with red wine, cinnamon sticks fresh cranberries, orange slices and cloves.

The alcohol can help clear mucus by dilating blood vessels in the upper body. The steam from the hot water might also help to clear congestion. Whiskey might also cause drowsiness, helping you to get more rest.

While alcohol can't remedy the common cold, it does limit the severity of your symptoms. When consumed in small amounts, alcohol is a vasodilator, which means it helps your blood vessels open up. Getting sick means there is a foreign substance in your body.

Nightcaps can be neat or mixed. They should not be served chilled or on the rocks, because their point is to induce a feeling of warmth. The hot toddy is usually considered the original nightcap. Other traditional nightcaps include brown liquor like brandy or bourbon, and cream-based liqueurs such as Irish cream.

These days, when it comes to making hot toddies, it's a flexible rubric. Maker's Mark and Jameson are popular choices, but they're far from your only option. Try it with rye, Bourbon, rum, or the brown spirit of your choosing. The best whiskey to use in a hot toddy is the one you have on hand.

Jim Beam^® Black Hot Toddy

Extra-aged bourbon adds full-bodied richness, with flavors of vanilla, toasted oak, and baking spice. Perfect for cozy holiday celebrations or quiet nights by the fire.

A hot toddy, also known as hot whiskey in Ireland, and occasionally called southern cough syrup within the Southern United States, is typically a mixed drink made of liquor and water with honey (or in some recipes, sugar), lemon, herbs (such as tea) and spices, and served hot.