Best Hot Toddy Recipe | With Tea & For Colds | Inspire • Travel • Eat (2024)

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What is the best cold weather cocktail when it starts getting chilly out there and you need to turn to a winter drink? As the chilly winds of winter begin to blow, there’s nothing quite like wrapping your hands around a warm mug of a classic hot toddy.

Not only does this timeless concoction warm you from the inside out, but it also boasts a reputation for being a comforting remedy for those pesky winter colds. But how do you make a hot toddy recipe?

So many questions and here we have the answers. Cold weather is here and we all need the best hot toddy recipe to bundle up with to help your cold or just to drink because they are the best winter holiday cocktail!

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The hot toddy recipe for colds is also a must when you just want some comfort during cold and flu season. A true hot toddy normally does not have tea however this recipe includes the tea option as typically it tastes much better with tea vs. the more straight version.

A hot toddy with tea also helps with colds due to the nutritional value and other benefits from the tea you use for this amazing winter drink. If you want another great cold weather cocktail try out this amazing Spiced Hot Apple Cider Cocktail.

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There are many variations you can have with a hot toddy. You can make a hot toddy with hot apple cider, a traditional hot toddy without tea, a hot toddy with tea and of course multiple different liquors can be used depending on your favorite variation.

Do Use Rum or Whiskey For a Hot Toddy?

A traditional hot toddy is with whiskey, bourbon or rye. However, my favorite hot toddy is with spiced rum or a maple flavored whiskey.

Other versions of hot toddy’s are just as good using dark rum, brandy, bourbon or even fireball. Some people say to use vodka but that is not advised.

Is A Hot Toddy Good If You Are Sick?

Yes, a hot toddy has some good ingredients if you are sick and offer some benefits when you are sick. A hot toddy can help with a sore throat and a cough along with other cold and flu symptoms.

Lemon is great for you when you are sick, you can use lemon tea, honey is another good ingredient when you are sick and that whiskey may just soothe some of your pain… maybe why they call it grandpa’s medicine ;).

With all of that said, we are not medical experts so don’t write down a hot toddy for your cure for COVID, the flu or a cold.

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What is In a hot toddy?

A traditional hot toddy is few ingredients with just hot water, whiskey, honey, lemon and then a cinnamon stick or star anise for garnish.

You can of course make this tastier by adding a tea bag and making tea vs. just hot water as your base for the hot toddy recipe.

What Is The Best Tea For A Hot Toddy?

Lemon tea and plain black tea are the best teas for a hot toddy. You can use chamomile, ginger or try any other teas but typically lemon or plain black tea make the best tea hot toddy.

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Here are some other benefits of the hot toddy:

  1. Soothing a Sore Throat & cough: The combination of warm liquids and honey in a hot toddy can help soothe a sore throat. Honey has natural antibacterial properties and can provide relief from irritation.
  2. Easing Congestion: The steam from the hot toddy can help open up nasal passages and provide relief from congestion. Inhaling the warm vapors while sipping on the drink can be especially comforting.
  3. Promoting Sleep: The warmth of the hot toddy, coupled with the relaxing effects of bourbon or whiskey, can help promote better sleep. Adequate rest is crucial for recovery from a cold, and a hot toddy might be just the thing to help you drift off into a restful slumber.
  4. Hydration: Staying hydrated is essential when you’re under the weather. The hot water in a toddy, along with the additional fluids from the tea, can contribute to keeping you well-hydrated.

Next time you find yourself bundled up with a cold, consider reaching for a hot toddy.

Not only does it provide a welcome warmth on a cold day, but its soothing qualities might just be the remedy you need to kick that winter cold to the curb. Cheers to good health and the comforting embrace of a well-crafted hot toddy!

Best Hot Toddy Recipe | With Tea & For Colds | Inspire • Travel • Eat (4)

Best Hot Toddy Recipe | With Tea & For Colds

What is the best cold weather cocktail when you need to turn to the best winter drink? Cold weather is here and we all need the best hot toddy recipe to bundle up with!

The hot toddy recipe for colds is also a must when you just want some comfort during cold and flu season. A true hot toddy normally does not have tea however this recipe includes the tea option as typically it tastes much better with tea vs. the more straight version.

A hot toddy with tea also helps with colds due to the nutritional value and other benefits from the tea you use for this amazing winter drink.

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Course: Cocktails, Drinks

Cuisine: American, Drinks

Keyword: Holiday Cocktails, holiday drinks, Hot toddy, Hot Toddy Recipe, winter cocktails

Prep Time: 1 minute min

Cook Time: 2 minutes mins

Total Time: 3 minutes mins

Servings: 1 drink

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup hot water or brewed tea lemon tea or black tea is best
  • 1-2 oz whiskey/bourbon/rye rum or brandy
  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • 1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

Optional

  • 1/4 cup hot apple cider in place of water/tea

Garnish Options

  • Cinnamon stick
  • Sliced apple
  • Star Anise
  • Lemon wedge

Instructions

  • Put hot water or tea in your mug, add lemon juice, honey and whiskey.

  • Garnish with lemon, cinnamon stick and a star anise if you have one.

Print Recipe

Tried this recipe?Mention @InspireTravelEat or tag #InspireTravelEat!

Best Hot Toddy Recipe | With Tea & For Colds | Inspire • Travel • Eat (2024)

FAQs

What tea is best for hot toddy? ›

You can use whatever tea you want for a hot toddy, and any full-bodied, flavorful tea that can stand up well to the strong flavors of spirits and lemon is a good option.

What is a hot toddy and is it good for a cold? ›

Experts say yes — sort of. The folklore goes that a hot toddy – the alcoholic drink composed of hot water, lemon juice, honey and whiskey or rum or brandy – can soothe your sore throat or clear your winter cold-induced congestion. And many people are believers.

Can you drink hot toddy everyday? ›

Best consumed in small doses and infrequently, Hot Toddies can only be served as as medicine to those 21 and over, should not replace a medical professional's advice, and are best followed by a tall glass of water, some herbal tea, and plenty of rest and TLC.

What is the ingredients of a hot toddy? ›

To make a hot toddy, you'll need bourbon (which is a type of whiskey), honey, lemons, cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, and whole cloves. Simply combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and honey in a mug and add boiling water (use more or less water depending on how strong you'd like your hot toddy to be).

Is a hot toddy good for a bad cough? ›

The ingredients in a hot toddy have been shown to have cough-suppressing properties. Alcohol isn't needed in the recipe to experience these benefits. Consuming warm water, lemon, and honey is the key to symptom relief. Additional items can be added to taste, such as tea, clove, and ginger.

Should you drink a hot toddy when sick? ›

A hot toddy contains several ingredients that may be able to reduce cold symptoms, such as lemon, honey, and hot water. Adding spices, such as ginger, to a hot toddy may also have benefits. There is, however, no evidence to suggest that alcohol can help with the symptoms.

Does hot toddy break up mucus? ›

From a hot toddy, lemon and honey coat the throat and cut through the unpleasant mucus lingering in the head; cinnamon offers sweet warmth to the beverage, and the bourbon takes a more aggressive approach in combatting congestion.

What alcohol is good for a cold? ›

Brandy, with its warming properties, is often considered a traditional remedy for cold symptoms. When consumed in moderation, brandy can help relax the muscles, providing relief from the aches and pains associated with a cold. Yes, you should drink a lot of water.

Does the alcohol boil off in hot toddy? ›

But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study in 2007 that nailed down the numbers with the magic of the scientific method.

How many hot toddies should you have? ›

Furthermore, there's evidence that suggests drinking two hot toddies per day can help relieve cold symptoms such as sore throats and congestion when paired with restful sleep.

Which whiskey is best for hot toddy? ›

Irish Whiskey: Known for its smoothness and light sweetness, brands like Jameson and Bushmills blend well without overpowering the other ingredients. Bourbon: With its rich, vanilla, and caramel notes, bourbon like Maker's Mark or Woodford Reserve adds depth and complements the honey and lemon in the toddy.

What are the risks of toddy? ›

Because toddy is prepared and stored in unhygienic condition and consumers are usually economically poor, malnourished, and have an unhealthy lifestyle, the chances of parasitic contamination, transmission and infection remain high with toddy consumption.

What cocktail is good for a sore throat? ›

Traditionally a classic Negroni contains three ingredients used equally: sweet vermouth, gin and Campari. This recipe incorporates some sweet and some extra spice, and once heated up, it provides a delightful beverage that settles your stomach, soothes your sore throat and eases coughs without the medicinal flavor.

What's the difference between a hot toddy and a hot whiskey? ›

A hot toddy, also known as hot whiskey in Ireland, and occasionally called southern cough syrup within the Southern United States, is typically a mixed drink made of liquor and water with honey (or in some recipes, sugar), lemon, herbs (such as tea) and spices, and served hot.

What tea goes best with whiskey? ›

The soft, vegetal, grassy flavors of most green tea means it adds to, rather than overpowers, even the lightest whiskies. Often, a green tea will highlight citrusy notes in whisky. The result is a refreshing, breezy drink ideal for summer picnics and sultry evenings.

What tea is good for alcohol? ›

Green Tea. Green tea is often associated with detoxing, because of its high antioxidant content. Research even suggests green tea could protect the liver against the damage caused by alcohol. And as it contains caffeine, green tea might be just the boost you need to overcome fatigue caused by alcohol-disturbed sleep.

What alcohol goes well in hot tea? ›

The classic Hot Toddy recipe is the simplest way to incorporate alcohol into your favorite tea in a tasteful manner. Pour your preferred spirit—rum, gin, whiskey, or vodka—into a mug with a touch of honey and a spritz of lemon, then top with tea instead of hot water.

Does a hot toddy contain tea? ›

Add 1 1/2 ounces liquor and 1 tablespoon fresly squeezed lemon juice to the glass, then fill with the brewed tea. Stir well to incorporate the honey. Garnish with 1 lemon wedge and 1 cinnamon stick. Serve and enjoy.

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