Hot Toddy
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy. Warm up with this cozy hot toddy recipe—boozy, lemony, and a touch sweet, all brought together with spices for the ultimate comforting drink. Perfect for chilly nights or when you need a little pick-me-up! A hot toddy is a classic and warming whiskey cocktail infused with honey, lemon, and spices. My grandmother swore by it as a cure-all for colds, insomnia, or whatever ails you. But it’s also just the thing to warm yourself up on a chilly evening. This hot toddy recipe is adapted from one of my favorite cocktail books, Give Me Liberty and Give Me a Drink! by C. Jarrett Dieterle. More than just a collection of delicious cocktail recipes, this book is also a look at the wacky and outdated liquor laws still in place across America. (Did you know that in Utah, cocktails must be mixed behind a “Zion curtain” that separates the bartender from the patrons and hides the mixing process?) If you’re looking for a fun gift for the cocktail lovers in your life, this book is a great choice—especially paired with a bottle of booze. “WARM & WONDERFUL! We enjoyed this in December around the holidays…It is perfectly spiced, lemony and delicious by the fire.” What You’ll Need To Make a Hot Toddy Bourbon: A type of whisky, this is the base spirit that gives the hot toddy its warmth and depth. Any good bourbon will work—choose one you enjoy sipping on its own! Fresh lemon juice: Adds a bright, refreshing tartness that balances the richness of the bourbon and honey. Always use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Honey: Sweetens the drink and adds a smooth, comforting element. Feel free to adjust the sweetness to your taste. Boiling water: Dilutes the mix and helps everything come together. Adjust the amount for a stronger or milder drink. Spices (cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise): These garnishes add warmth and spice. Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements Bourbon: A type of whisky, this is the base spirit that gives the hot toddy its warmth and depth. Any good bourbon will work—choose one you enjoy sipping on its own! Fresh lemon juice: Adds a bright, refreshing tartness that balances the richness of the bourbon and honey. Always use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Honey: Sweetens the drink and adds a smooth, comforting element. Feel free to adjust the sweetness to your taste. Boiling water: Dilutes the mix and helps everything come together. Adjust the amount for a stronger or milder drink. Spices (cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise): These garnishes add warmth and spice. Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements How To Make a Hot Toddy Simply combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and honey in a mug and add boiling water. Stir until the honey is dissolved and the ingredients are combined. Garnish with the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise pod. Sip, warm up, and enjoy! Wondering what to serve with hot toddies? They pair wonderfully with a variety of treats. Try them with gingerbread cookies, shortbread, a cheese platter, spiced nuts, or pound cake. You May Also Like RecipeComments (46)Add Comment Recipe Comments (46) Add Comment Ingredients 2 oz (¼ cup) bourbon 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) 1 tablespoon honey Boiling water, to fill a mug (6 to 8 oz) Cinnamon stick for garnish 3 to 4 cloves for garnish 1 star anise pod for garnish 2 oz (¼ cup) bourbon 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) 1 tablespoon honey Boiling water, to fill a mug (6 to 8 oz) Cinnamon stick for garnish 3 to 4 cloves for garnish 1 star anise pod for garnish Instructions Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and honey in a mug and add the boiling water (use more or less, depending on how strong you'd like the drink to be). Stir until the honey is dissolved and the ingredients are well combined, 10 to 15 seconds. Garnish with the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise pod. Note: When serving, I recommend warming up some heavy mugs by first filling them with boiling water. Once they’re nice and toasty, spill out the water and fill with the cocktail. This will help the drinks maintain their cozy warmth a bit longer. Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and honey in a mug and add the boiling water (use more or less, depending on how strong you'd like the drink to be). Stir until the honey is dissolved and the ingredients are well combined, 10 to 15 seconds. Garnish with the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise pod. Note: When serving, I recommend warming up some heavy mugs by first filling them with boiling water. Once they’re nice and toasty, spill out the water and fill with the cocktail. This will help the drinks maintain their cozy warmth a bit longer. Nutrition Information Powered by Per serving (1 servings) Calories: 207 Fat: 0 g Saturated fat: 0 g Carbohydrates: 18 g Sugar: 18 g Fiber: 0 g Protein: 0 g Sodium: 1 mg Cholesterol: 0 mg Per serving (1 servings) Calories: 207 Fat: 0 g Saturated fat: 0 g Carbohydrates: 18 g Sugar: 18 g Fiber: 0 g Protein: 0 g Sodium: 1 mg Cholesterol: 0 mg This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. See more recipes: DrinksHolidaysEnglish Drinks Holidays English