Yes! Today is Hot Toddy Day! Hot toddies are made from a spirit base of either whiskey, bourbon, rum, gin or brandy; hot liquid (water, tea or coffee), a sweetener (honey, sugar or syrup) and spices (such as cinnamon or cloves) and/or citrus (lemon or orange). The origin of the hot toddy is debated...
The Scots claim it was Scotland of course, home of Whiskey (and the Brave!) - as Tod's Well was was once a renowned site for clear running water from which the people of Edinburgh took their water for their hot whiskey drinks.
But... the word 'Toddy' is used to describe a certain type of Palm tree in India, from which a fermented drink "Tadi" was and is made, from it's sap.
Being that the Brits took over India, where they claimed everything as their own, it wouldn't surprise me if they thought,"Ah, what a good idea, the ladies like this sweet taste so why not take this little concoction and just put a little whisky in there instead of the palm tree stuff and Bob's your uncle?And the Hot Toddy as we know it was born! It eventually made it's way across the colonies and depending on the temperature of the country you lived in, it was served hot or cold (as in America's south and India...)
Hot Toddies soon developed a reputation for soothing sore throats and curing colds as the steam from the hot liquid makes you breathe better, especially if you add a little lemon which along with honey, soothes the throat. And then add into the mix a little nip of whiskey (or brandy or rum) and you're bound to sleep well that night.
Here's the basic ingredients of a Hot Toddy: 1 tablespoon of honey stirred into 1/2 cup of hot water. Add some spice if you like (a cinnamon stick perhaps or some cloves), a squeeze of lemon and then add 2 ounces of liquor. Use your choice of whisky, bourbon, rum, gin or brandy.
Here are some great Hot Toddies that you should look in to... oh, and sleep well tonight!
The South Africa Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
2 Tbls Whiskey
4 or 6 slices ginger
1 Tbls lemon zest
1 Cup water
1 Rooibos tea bag
1 Tbls honey (or more if you like it sweeter)
1 Tbls lemon juice.
Divide the lemon zest and ginger between two glasses. Top with Whiskey (1 Tbls per glass) and allow to infuse while you prepare the tea. Bring the water and tea bag to the boil. Once it’s boiling, remove the teabag and add the honey. Stir until the honey has melted. Pour the hot tea into the whiskey and add the fresh lemon juice (1/2 of each per glass). Serve hot. (http://www.joburg.co.za/rooibos-hot-toddy/)
Moloko Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
2 oz Woodford Reserve bourbon 1/2 oz honey syrup* 1/2 oz orange juice 1 oz lemon juice 1 cinnamon stick 1 orange slice w/ whole clove 4 oz hot water
First, pour hot water into a glass to temper it. This ensures that the glass doesn’t cool your drink (it’s a hot toddy, not a lukewarm toddy). Next, squeeze the lemon and orange juice using your method of choice, cut off an orange slice, and slip pieces of clove into the orange. Pour out the hot water you used for tempering the glass, then add bourbon. Splash in your lemon juice, orange juice, and honey simple syrup. Next, add your cinnamon stick and be-cloved orange slice (and straw, if you like). Pour in about 4oz of hot water, stir, and enjoy! (http://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/perfect-hot-toddy-recipe/)
Hot Gin Toddy
Ingredients:
1 1/4 ounces Tanqueray London Dry Gin
3/4 ounce lemon juice
2 ounces hot water
1 teaspoon sugar
Cinnamon stick for garnish
Build the ingredients into a wine goblet. Stir well. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. (http://cocktails.about.com/od/ginrecipes/r/gin_toddy_hot.htm)
Grand Rum Toddy
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces rum
3/4 ounce Gran Gala or Grand Marnier orange liqueur
1/4 ounce lime juice
Hot water to fill
Lime wedge for garnish
In an Irish coffee glass pour the liquors and lime juice. Top with hot water. Stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Hot Ginger Toddy
Ingredients:
1 ounce bourbon whiskey
1/2 ounce ginger liqueur
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Hot water
Pour the liquor, honey and lemon in an Irish coffee glass. Top with hot water. Stir. Enjoy!