Stay Warm and Cozy With These Hot Toddy Recipes

With winter firmly underway in the capital, all I want to do is go into full hibernation mode and stay at home all snug and warm wrapped in a blanket with a hot toddy in hand. For me, a hot toddy is the ultimate cozy winter drink and my Scottish Gran even used to swear it could heal any ailment – cough, cold, sore throat, bad day; a hot toddy is just the thing the doctor ordered. 

Now, there are quite a few spots around Beijing that offer hot toddies, however if you're in hibernation mode like me, here's how to make one at home. As you'd expect from a drink hailing from Scotland, a classic hot toddy uses whisky as its base liquor, however if whisky isn’t your cup of tea – or toddy – we've included a few alternative variations as well. 

Classic Hot Toddy

Ingredients

• 2-3 tsp honey, to taste
• 40ml whisky 
• 2-3 tsps freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 1 slice of lemon

Method

1. Place the honey and whisky (or rum) into a mug or heatproof glass.
2. Fill the mug or glass with fresh boiling water and stir until the honey has melted.
3. Add a splash of lemon juice and the cinnamon stick.
4. Stud the slice of lemon with the cloves and add to the glass.
5. Taste and if needed add more honey or lemon juice for your preferred flavor.

Rum Hot Toddy

Ingredients

• 2-3 tsp maple syrup, to taste
• 40ml dark rum 
• 2-3 tsps freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 1 slice of lemon

Method

1. Place the maple syrup and rum into a mug or heatproof glass.
2. Fill the mug or glass with fresh boiling water and stir until the honey has melted.
3. Add a splash of lemon juice and the cinnamon stick.
4. Stud the slice of lemon with the cloves and add to the glass.
5. Taste and if needed add more maple syrup or lemon juice for your preferred flavor.

Gin Hot Toddy

Ingredients

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 2 cardamom pods (optional)
• 3 slices of orange
• 1-2 tsps honey, to taste
• 40ml gin
• 2 tbsps fresh orange juice
• 2 tsps freshly squeezed lemon juice

Method

• Place the cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods (if using), two slices of orange and 150ml of water into a small saucepan and heat gently until simmering then remove from heat.
• Meanwhile place the gin, honey, orange juice and lemon juice into a mug or heatproof glass.
• Strain the mixture from the saucepan, discarding the fruit and spices, into the mug or glass and stir until the honey is melted and it’s all combined.
• Taste and if needed add more honey, orange juice or lemon juice for your preferred flavor.
• To finish garnish with the remaining orange slice.

Tequila Hot Toddy

Ingredients

• 2-3 tsp honey, to taste
• 30ml añejo tequila*
• 10ml Cointreau liqueur
• 2-3 tsps freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 1 slice of orange

Method

1. Place the honey, tequila and Cointreau into a mug or heatproof glass.
2. Fill the mug or glass with fresh boiling water and stir until the honey has melted.
3. Add a splash of orange juice and the cinnamon stick.
4. Stud the slice of orange with the cloves and add to the glass.
5. Taste and if needed add more honey or Cointreau for your preferred flavor.

*If preferred you can also swap out the tequila for mezcal.

READ: To Try List: New Italian, Bistro, SOLDOUT, Habesha Xmas & More

Images: Canva