Different nations have different remedies for cold. In Ireland and Scotland, there’s one called “Hot Toddy”. This drink has an excellent taste, and it perfectly warms and saturates with vitamin C. This tea with whiskey, honey, and lemon is the British answer to the more popular grog, punch, and Mulled Wine. One of its distinctive features is that it’s easy-to-make and can be prepared much faster.
Historical note. The hot toddy whiskey cocktail was first introduced in the 17th century in Ireland. After a few decades, the Scots also took a liking to this hot whiskey drink, which seemed like a perfect way to get warm in the frigid damp climate. Ladies also liked this drink for its flavor and low alcohol content.
Initially, the name “toddy” was used for an Indian palm wine with spices, which got into Europe thanks to the British East India Company. The first version of hot toddy was made by heating palm wine with spices, honey, and lemon, trying to make a drink resembling mulled wine. This drink had a mediocre taste. Then the Irish finally decided to replace Indian wine with hot whiskey with tea, and that’s how the modern recipe for hot toddy came to life.
The Scots tell a different story of this recipe’s origin. They say that hot toddy is named after a famous natural site of clear water in Edinburgh called Tod’s Well.
Ingredients and proportions:
- Whiskey (scotch, bourbon) – 100 ml
- Boiling water – 300 ml
- Leaf tea – 1 tsp
- Honey – 2 tsp
- 1 lemon
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
- 1-2 clove buds (optional)
Replacing whiskey with calvados and lemon with 30-40 ml of apple juice will let you make an alternative cocktail called Apple Toddy.
Hot Toddy Classic Recipe
- Pour leaf tea with boiling water. Stir and cover with a lid. Infuse for 2-3 minutes.
- Squeeze juice from the lemon, pour in whiskey, add honey, and stir.
- Strain the drink through a sieve and add cloves and cinnamon (optionally).
- Serve hot toddy hot or warm. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
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