Snuggle up and sip one of these hot toddies with a twist
Winter is well and truly upon us, and the cold temperatures provide the perfect excuse to warm up with a hot toddy.
There's even a national hot toddy day on 11 January 2022. Before then, there's time to perfect your hot toddy-making skills and find your favourite recipe.
The traditional combination of whisky, honey, lemon, cinnamon, and cloves packs a warming punch and can be a brilliant choice if you're entertaining in winter. But if you're looking to mix things up a bit, here's a traditional recipe followed by a few hot toddies with a twist.
Traditional hot toddy
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 50ml whisky
- 3 teaspoons honey
- 1 cinnamon stick, snapped in half
- 1 lemon, half juiced and half sliced
- 2 cloves
Method
- Whisk the whisky and honey together and split between two heatproof glasses. Add half of the cinnamon stick to each, then top up with 200ml boiling water.
- Add a splash of lemon juice to each glass, then taste and add more to your preference.
- Finish each with a slice of lemon, studded with a clove, and serve immediately.
Spiced toffee apple winter warmer
Time to make: 5 minutes
Serves: 2 – 3
Ingredients
- 4 x 500ml Brothers Toffee Apple Cider
- 125ml spiced rum
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- Handful star anise
Method
- Place a saucepan on low heat and pour in 4 x 500ml Brothers Toffee Apple cider, along with the rum, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.
- Stir on a low heat for five minutes.
- Ladle into glass mugs and garnish with winter spices.
Black tea hot toddy
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 5 cloves, optional
- 1 stick cinnamon, optional
- 1 pod star anise, optional
- 1 tablespoon black tea leaves
- 1 tablespoon honey, or to taste
- 60ml of brandy, dark rum, or whiskey
- 1 lemon wedge
Method
- Combine the water and spices in a pan.
- Bring the water to just below boiling and remove it from the heat.
- Add tea leaves, and allow to steep for 4 minutes.
- Strain into a large mug and stir in the honey.
- Float brandy, rum, or whiskey on the top of the drink by pouring it over the back of a spoon.
- Squeeze the juice from a lemon wedge into the mug. If you like your drinks extra lemony, drop the lemon into the mug.
- Serve and enjoy.
Red wine hot chocolate
Serves: 6 – 8
Ingredients
- 500ml milk
- 300ml Malbec red wine
- 150g dark chocolate
- 2 tablespoon demerara sugar
- 6 allspice berries
- 4 cloves
- 2 star anise
Method
- In a saucepan, combine your red wine, star anise, cloves, berries, and sugar. Heat gently and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Heat the milk in another saucepan and gradually whisk in the dark chocolate.
- Strain the red wine mixture into the hot chocolate saucepan and give it a good stir.
- Serve in small glasses or mugs.
Non-alcoholic hot toddy (minus the toddy)
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- 200ml of hot tea
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, or a cinnamon stick
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Lemon wedge, for garnish
Method
- In a warm Irish coffee glass or mug, add the honey, lemon juice, and spices.
- Top with hot, freshly brewed tea and stir well.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
- Serve and enjoy.
If you have whole spices, particularly cloves – which often come whole – contain them in your mug by placing them in a tea ball or similar strainer. Or try swapping ground cinnamon for a whole stick and use it as a convenient stirrer.
Add other spices however you want. Ginger is a great addition, especially if you have a cold or are feeling under the weather. Allspice, anise, and vanilla are also good options.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with ideas. Anything you'd put into a mulled wine or hot apple cider works great in a toddy.
