Drink Responsibly, and Look Good Doing It

1.  Wear your new hat and glove set
2.  Drink a few classic winter drinks
3.  Indulge in the rediscovered deliciously warm cocktail

Ok, number one is a given.  Number two consists of the usual beverages (spiked or not), such as hot apple cider, hot chocolate, eggnog, etc.  But number three may be the best new way to warm up when the weather gets too chilly to go outside.

I’d like to introduce you to the Hot Toddy.  You may have heard of the Hot Toddy before since it was commonly used as a cold remedy when our parents and grandparents were growing up.  A little whiskey here, a little honey there, a squeeze of lemon and down the hatch it goes.

Bars across America have brought back the old sore throat cure but added a few twists to make it a tasty treat. Here is the standard recipe to begin your Hot Toddy before making your own personal adjustments:

Hot Toddy
1 shot of whiskey
1 teaspoon of honey
3 ounces of hot water
2 lemon wedges

The trick to the Hot Toddy is making sure you put the whiskey in last.  It’s easy to cook out the alcohol in this drink if you mix it all together and then put it in the microwave.  Don’t ruin the party by accidentally sobering up your guests.

To start, squeeze the lemon wedges into a cup and drop in the peels.  Add the honey and microwave until hot.  Then mix in hot water, however you choose to heat it.  Finally, stir in a shot of whiskey.  Or, be bold and add two shots.

If you want to take this classic beverage and put a modern twist to it, add a flavored tea bag of your choice to your hot water.  Try Orange pekoe and a splash of Cointreau.  Any form of citrus tea will be a great addition.  Maybe get a little spicy and work with cinnamon and nutmeg tea.  It’s up to you!  Guess, test and revise to make your own favorite Hot Toddy mix.

However you make your Hot Toddy, remember that it’s more than a winter drink, it’s also a delightful sore-throat elixir.