Hot Toddy Recipe: The Classic With Honey, Plus Variations and a Zero-Proof Version

Classic hot toddy recipe

Warm the mug first by filling it with hot water for a minute, then pour that out. Add the honey and a splash of hot water and stir until the honey dissolves. Add the whiskey and lemon juice, then top with more hot water to taste. Stud a lemon wheel with cloves, or add a cinnamon stick, and serve right away.

Use water that has rested a minute or two after boiling. Boiling water dulls the honey's aroma and makes the drink harsh.

• 1 1/2 oz (45 ml) bourbon, rye or Scotch
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 4 to 6 oz (120 to 180 ml) hot water
• Garnish: lemon wheel, 3 cloves, cinnamon stick or star anise

Which honey to use

A golden, medium honey like our Pure Raw Honey or Wildflower is the classic choice: rich enough to stand up to whiskey but not so strong it takes over. Clover makes a lighter, brighter toddy. A spoonful of buckwheat honey gives a dark, malty drink that is excellent with rye or a smoky Scotch.

If your honey is crystallized, dissolve it in a little hot water first. For a crowd, make a honey simple syrup ahead and add 3/4 ounce per drink.

Choosing a spirit

Bourbon gives a sweeter, vanilla-rich toddy; rye is spicier; Scotch is the traditional Scottish choice and can be smoky; Irish whiskey is smooth and mellow. Dark rum and brandy also make excellent toddies. You do not need an expensive bottle, but avoid anything harsh, since hot water exaggerates rough edges.

Five hot toddy variations

Once you have the basic proportions, it is easy to change the drink to suit the evening.

• Ginger toddy: steep a few slices of fresh ginger in the hot water for five minutes
• Tea toddy: use hot black, chai or Earl Grey tea instead of water
• Apple toddy: use hot apple cider instead of water and bourbon as the spirit
• Orange toddy: swap the lemon for orange juice and use orange blossom honey
• Spiced toddy: simmer cinnamon, clove, allspice and orange peel in the water first

Alcohol-free hot toddy

A virgin toddy keeps the honey, lemon and spice and swaps the whiskey for something with body. Strong black tea, rooibos or chai works well, as does hot apple cider. Add a slice of ginger for warmth. It is a comforting drink for anyone who does not drink alcohol, and more ideas are in our honey mocktails guide.

Is a hot toddy good for a cold?

Hot toddies have long been a folk remedy, and a warm drink with honey and lemon can feel soothing. But alcohol does not treat a cold or flu and can leave you more dehydrated, so a toddy is best enjoyed as a cozy drink rather than as medicine. If you are unwell, an alcohol-free version is the wiser choice. For what research says about honey and coughs, see our honey for cough page.