Hot toddy
Whisky, honey, lemon and hot water. The drink for a cold night or a bad cold.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Heatproof glass
- Strength
- 2 UK units
How to make a hot toddy
- Warm the glass. Fill a heatproof glass or mug with hot water, leave it for a minute, then tip it away. A warm glass keeps the drink hot for longer.
- Dissolve the honey. Add the honey and a splash of the hot water and stir until it has melted into the water, about 10 seconds.
- Add whisky and lemon. Pour in the whisky and lemon juice, then top up with the rest of the hot water and stir once.
- Garnish and serve. Push three cloves into a lemon wheel and float it on top, with a cinnamon stick if you have one. Drink while it is hot.
- Glass
- Heatproof glassNo heatproof glass? A mug works just as well.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Lemon wheel studded with three clovesOr: A plain lemon slice.
What you need to make a hot toddy
Kit
KettleFor hot water and warming glasses.
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
Bottles we'd use
- A blended ScotchSmooth and inexpensive is right here: Monkey Shoulder or Famous Grouse both work.Find it on Amazon
- Runny honeyA mild flower honey; strong heather honey can take over.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The hot toddy story
Hot whisky with sugar and spice has been drunk in Scotland and Ireland for a few hundred years, and the name probably comes from 'taddy', a drink made in India from palm sap that British traders brought home. The modern version settled on whisky, honey and lemon.
It does not cure a cold, but warm steam, honey and lemon make one easier to sit through, which is reason enough.
Hot toddy: your questions answered
What is in a hot toddy?
A hot toddy is made with 50 ml Blended Scotch, 15 ml runny honey and 10 ml fresh lemon juice. Garnish: lemon wheel studded with three cloves.
How strong is a hot toddy?
Made to this recipe, a hot toddy contains about 2 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a hot toddy in?
Serve a hot toddy in a heatproof glass. No heatproof glass? A mug works just as well.
