Plain “Hot Toddy” (from Epicurious)

Hot toddy with cinnamon and lemon

Epicurious

Honestly? If you manage to screw this one up, you must’ve mistaken a bee for a spoon, or something. It doesn’t even have tea; it’s literally water, bourbon, honey, and lemon. How to you prepare this drink? Wait for the full moon, and then sacrifice a small chicken on an alter to Beelzebub. What do you think you do? Mix it in a mug and chug until all your demons go away.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 oz (2 tablespoons) bourbon
• 1 tablespoon mild honey
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup boiling-hot water

PREPARATION

• Put bourbon, honey, and lemon juice in a 6-ounce mug. Top off with hot water and stir until honey is dissolved.

Hot Toddy with Tea (from ​​The Spruce Eats)

hot toddy with lemon and cinnamon stick

The Spruce Eats

Alternatively, you can mix your alcohol with caffeine like a grown up. Sure, caffeine can dampen your buzz, but keep to your limits and know how toasty you’re aiming to get, and you’ll be alert but blissfully sleepy.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 ounces brandy (or whiskey, rum)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice (fresh; to taste)
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 tea bag

PREPARATION

• Boil water
• Brew the tea in a separate mug
• Fill the bottom of your mug or glass (preferably a fancy Irish coffee glass) with honey
• Add liquor
• Add lemon
• Add tea
• Stir well

Hot Toddy with Apple Cider Vinegar (from ​​​Inspired Taste)

hot toddy with lemon and cinnamon stick

Inspired Taste

For a stronger tart taste, try incorporating apple cider vinegar into your favorite warm beverage. Like family members, it’s sour but satisfying and somewhat fills the void where the meaning of your life should be.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ounce dark rum or bourbon
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon pure honey
• 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, optional
• 1/4 cup hot water or brewed tea
• Lemon slice

PREPARATION

• Put honey, lemon juice and the apple cider vinegar in a warmed mug. Add hot water or hot tea and stir until the honey has dissolved. Add the rum or bourbon, stir then finish with a lemon slice.

Cinnamon Whiskey Hot Toddy (from ​Tablespoon​)

hot toddy with lemon and cinnamon stick

For the easiest added flavoring and flair possible, add a cinnamon stick. Truthfully, you could use cinnamon or honey flavored bourbon in addition to a cinnamon stick, and you’ll feel like a master mixer without having done any hard work whatsoever.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 lemon, juice only
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 oz. bourbon (or cinnamon or honey flavored bourbon)
• 6 oz. hot water
• Lemon slice, garnish

PREPARATION

• Add lemon juice to a glass with honey.
• Pour in bourbon and stir together with cinnamon stick.
• Pour hot water over cinnamon stick into the glass. Let steep for 5-6 minutes.

Chili Cinnamon Hot Toddy (from ​Minimalist Baker)

hot toddy with lemon and cinnamon stick

Minimalist Baker

You’re spicy. You’re edgy. Sometimes, you don’t recycle or say “excuse me” after you belch at the table. This drink is for you, with not just cinnamon spice but the kick of chili pepper. The only drawback is that this has an extra step of heating your own fancy “spiced cinnamon maple simple syrup,” which means that it’s probably the best recipe to try once you’ve imbibed one or two servings of a simpler recipe and you’re feeling reckless enough to play with fire.

INGREDIENTS

SPICED CINNAMON MAPLE SIMPLE SYRUP

• 1cupmaple syrup (or other sweetener of choice, such as cane sugar or honey if not vegan)
• 1 cup water
• 1 dried red chili pepper
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flake
• 2 whole cinnamon sticks

HOT TODDY

• 1/2 medium lemon (juiced)
• 3-4 Tbsp spiced maple simple syrup
• 2 ounces bourbon (rye or traditional // 2 ounces equals ~4 Tbsp)
• Hot water (to fill)
• Lemon wedge + cinnamon stick (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Add maple syrup, water, cinnamon sticks, chili, and red pepper flakes to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Then remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes – 1 hour (or longer). Strain and pour into a glass jar for serving.
2. To make a single toddy, add the juice of half a lemon, 3-4 Tbsp Chili Cinnamon Maple Simple Syrup, 2 ounces bourbon, and hot water to top (use less water for a stronger drink, more water for a weaker drink).
3. Garnish with another cinnamon stick and lemon slice or wedge and serve. The longer it steeps the stronger the cinnamon, lemon flavor becomes.
4. Repeat for more drinks or make a large batch to serve a crowd by simply multiplying ingredients by number of drinks you need.