Are you drinking hot toddies yet? You should be. It’s getting cold out, and the hot toddy is basically magic against cold, raw fall and winter nights. Especially if you’re not feeling well to boot. So drink some hot toddies. Like this Apple Hot Toddy we first posted about nearly two years ago (!!) or today’s cocktail, a hot toddy that combines whiskey, St-Germain, and tea that’s perfect for November. – Andrew
Illustration by Shauna Lynn for Oh So Beautiful Paper
1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey
3/4 oz St-Germain
1/2 oz Lemon Syrup
1/2 oz Apple Cider
6 oz Hot Black Tea
Brew the tea. Combine the whiskey, St-Germain, cider, and syrup in your glass, then add the tea and give it a stir to melt the syrup. Enjoy while it’s still hot!
This Hot Toddy is rich, sweet, smooth, and complex. The Irish Whiskey, which is traditionally triple-distilled, is a smoother whiskey that rounds out the slightly spicy tea nicely. The St-Germain adds a floral complexity and a sweetness that balances the tea’s astringency. The lemon syrup (I used Morris Kitchen’s Preserved Lemon Syrup, though I bet you could make your own) adds a bit more sweetness and some citrusy complexity. And finally, that little bit of apple cider helps smooth out the rougher edges of the whiskey and tea.
Hot Toddies are most often made with hot water, but hot tea does the trick too. Tea is not a new ingredient in drinks, though it’s probably been out of favor for a while. David Wondrich places the earliest use of tea in hot punches all the way back in 1727. So, this is a new recipe with an old pedigree.
Just remember, if you make a hot toddy with black tea, it will contain caffeine. Don’t drink one or two or three of these while experimenting with recipes and then expect to fall asleep on time. Trust me.
Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper
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