Baby it’s cold outside. I really must go. But baby it’s cold outside. No, seriously, it’s getting cold out there! Welcome to November and cold weather. What you need is a nice hot drink to warm you up from the inside. What you need is a Hot Toddy.

When the halcyon days of summer are behind you — and you don’t need the refreshing and cooling properties of a Honey Deuce — you need something to keep you warm, not cool you off. Call it a Hot Whiskey, Hot Tottie, Hot Totty or whatever you want, it’s a mighty fine drink on a cold day. You can spice it up, keep it simple, add tea or just go with water. The most important thing is that you know it’s going to cure what ails you. (Statements not actually proven by a doctor, but if you think it’ll help you, it’ll help you.)

The ingredients in my basic Hot Toddy are pretty simple: honey, hot water, lemon juice (viatmin C!) and bourbon (vitamin B?). Add a cinnamon stick and you’re set for a warm, pleasant drink.

I like honey for this because I think it helps add to the natural curative properties (outside of just the bourbon’s natural curative properties, of course). However, if you don’t have any around the house, or just don’t fancy it, feel free to replace it with sugar. If you do go the sugar route, I’d advise brown sugar. It adds more character than just white sugar. This drink is about giving you something warm and pleasant to drink and all that white sugar brings to the party is sweet.

Remember, when Mother Nature is keeping you down because it’s dark and stormy outside (see what I did there?), let it bluster all it wants. When you have a hot toddy on your side, you can handle whatever she throws at you.

 

November 14th, 2014 | by morgan