Best Traditional Hot Toddy Recipe with Oranges
The Hot Toddy cocktail is the creme de la creme of hot drinks. Whether you are at home chillin’ by the fire or you rented a cabin in the mountains, one thing that should be on the menu is a hot toddy with oranges.
The classic Hot Toddy with oranges has one job: warming you up and easing your chest congestion from the flu.
Now, before you roll your eyes thinking, “Isn’t that just grandpa’s cough medicine?” let me stop you right there. The hot toddy is like that friend who always knows how to turn a dull night into an adventure – comforting, exciting, and juuust naughty enough to make you feel like you’re getting away with something.
So, what exactly is a hot toddy? Imagine the warmth of tea having a dance-off with the kick of whiskey while honey and lemon cheer from the sidelines.
The Toddy’s origins date back to the mid-18th century. The drink traditionally comprises a spirit, sugar, and hot water, perhaps with lemon peel or orange slices.
In Ireland, they used Irish whiskey, in Scotland, scotch. In the United States, they used whatever was on hand—often brandy or rum—and now the cocktail is made with tequila.
Whiskey is my liquor of choice, but again, depending on the city or country, the cocktail may be laced with several different spirits.
A good Toddy has been known to jump-start mornings, cure colds, and play furnace on a frigid evening.
Many people believe that its first use was as a medicinal aid. Liquor was known to numb pain, while citrus and sugar (or honey) could soothe a sore throat.
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Take one sip of the hot, comforting cocktail, and it’s easy to see how it has stood the test of time.
Sip on a hot toddy or another cold-weather cocktail by the fire—these are just a few of my favorite things to do this fall and winter.
There is something about drinking a hot toddy that makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside – whether you like yours with bourbon, rum, or tequila, this hot toddy recipe will keep you toasty this winter.
It is the perfect cold-weather cocktail to sip on when you’re under the weather or want to lounge around on a crisp fall or winter evening.
Grab a book or plush blanket, and take a social media detox for the evening.
Here is my favorite hot toddy recipe with oranges and the best whiskey for a hot toddy.
The “You’re Welcome” Hot Toddy Recipe:
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz (45ml) Uncle Nearest whiskey (bourbon works great, but use your favorite)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 0.5 oz (15ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 lemon wheel
- 1 Orange wheel
- 2-3 cloves (optional, for you spice enthusiasts)
Steps
- Dig out that fancy mug you never use.
- Pour in the whiskey.
- Add the honey. If you’re feeling fancy, drizzle it off a wooden honey dipper. If not, a squeezy bear works just fine..
- Squeeze in that Orange or lemon juice. It’s adding zing to your life, one drop at a time.
- Pour in the hot water. Watch the steam rise like your spirits on a Friday afternoon.
- Give it all a good stir with your cinnamon stick. It’s not just for flavor; it’s your fancy swizzle stick.
- Float that lemon wheel on top
- If you’re using cloves, stud them into the lemon wheel.
Use a paring knife or vegetable peeler to peel a strip of the orange as long as you can manage.
The Best Whiskey for Hot Toddy with Orange
Whiskey and Bourbon have the strongest flavor in a hot toddy if you make it just right.
The proper whiskey or bourbon will not water down your cocktail; the flavors can hold their own and will not fight against the sweetness of the honey and hot water.
Consider stocking up on these six whiskeys and bourbons for all your hot toddy needs before it gets too cold to go outside:
1. Uncle Nearest – A bit dry but smooth with a cotton candy-like sweetness. There is an excellent mint flavor left on the lovely palate. There is also more of a caramel flavor with distant notes of apple and hay. Uncle Nearest is one of the best whiskeys for a hot toddy.
2. Jack Daniels Winter Jack -Light with plenty of sweetness. There are hints of dry spice and oily nuts, a touch of smoke. Palate: Quite smooth and soft with notes of banana milkshake, a mixed nut note, and a touch of caramel with crème anglaise. Finish: Sweet with a bit of cereal sweetness and toasty oak. My husband swears by Winter Jack as the best whiskey for a hot toddy!
3. George Dickel – George Dickel’s overproof No. 12 is the hot toddy whiskey when it comes to the Tennessee whiskey category. It’s blended with aged whiskey, clear from the big oak, vanilla, and butterscotch flavors. Just like with Wild Turkey 101, the higher alcohol percentage ensures you will still get a kick after adding in the tea and other ingredients
4. Evan Williams -Rounded, balanced entrance. Suddenly, the briefest burst of exuberant fruit (tangerine again), followed by a green grassy note at midpalate. This becomes peppery on the finish, albeit with an aftertaste of oaky richness. It persists all through the mouth and between the teeth with an off-bitter, lingering, steely flavor.
5. Woodford Reserve – The perfectly balanced taste of our Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is comprised of more than 200 detectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood to sweet aromatics, spice, and fruit & floral notes, which makes it great for making a hot toddy.
6. Makers Mark—If you like your hot toddies sweet, Maker’s Mark is the whiskey for you. It’s bourbon with a corn-based mash but uses sweet wheat instead of spicy rye. There are notes of caramel and vanilla with just a touch of spice; the sweetness will stand out more than the spice when you add the tea.
Can a hot toddy help with a cold?
There is currently no cure for the common cold, but as soon as I feel one coming on, I first make myself a hot toddy. I usually manage my symptoms using home treatments and by taking over-the-counter medication, including a hot toddy.
Honey has anti-inflammatory properties, and both lemons and oranges contain potent antioxidants. Despite this, no research has specifically linked hot toddies to relieving a cold, but they make you feel better.
Many people believe that drinking a hot toddy can relieve the symptoms of a cold, some of which include:
- a runny nose
- sore throat
- sneezing
- fever
- body aches
- headache
- fatigue
- cough
Hot drinks are among the most common home remedies for colds and flu.
Drinking a hot toddy always reduces my sore throat, chills, and tiredness so while it may not be a cure it will surely make you feel better and help with the symptoms.
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ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Mulled Wine Recipe for the Holidays
11 Pleasantly Warm Fall Getaways
What is your favorite cold-weather cocktail? Have you had a hot toddy, and if so, what are your thoughts? I would love to hear your thoughts, so comment on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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