Hot Toddy (scotch)
Build; Warm up ∙ 4 min ∙ 13.8% ABV ∙
The Hot Toddy (scotch) is a hot drink of blended Scotch whisky, lemon juice, honey and sugar syrups, cloves and boiling water, made in a warmed glass.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-heat a toddy glass
- Pour all ingredients into the prewarmed glass: Blended Scotch whisky 45 mlLemon juice 10 mlHoney syrup 10 mlSugar syrup 5 mlCloves 3 pcsBoiling water 60 ml
- Garnish with a lemon wheel on the rim and a cinnamon stick in the glass
Tips
- Pour the water just off the boil; it needs that heat to draw the flavor out of the cloves.
- Drop the cloves in loose, not in a sachet, so they keep infusing into the hot drink as it sits.
History
Hot Toddy (scotch) is the classic Hot Toddy made with Scotch whisky as its base spirit, with no separate creation story of its own. Several sources treat "hot scotch" as the drink's earliest American name and its likeliest original spirit, since it crossed into the United States in the 1880s already known by that title.
The word "toddy" entered English from Hindi in British-controlled India in the 1610s as a term for a drink of fermented palm sap; by the mid-18th century it described a hot mixture of liquor, sugar, and water. Sources differ on whether the drink's true roots lie in colonial India or in Scotland.
FAQ
Is Scotch good for a hot toddy?
Yes. Blended Scotch is mellow and slightly smoky, and it holds its own against the honey, lemon and clove; a heavily peated single malt can bury them.
How do you make a Scotch hot toddy?
Preheat a toddy glass and pour in 45 ml blended Scotch, 10 ml lemon juice, 10 ml honey syrup, 5 ml sugar syrup and 3 cloves. Top with 60 ml boiling water. Garnish with a lemon wheel on the rim and a cinnamon stick, and let it sit briefly so the cloves infuse.
What is the ratio of water to whiskey in a hot toddy?
About four parts water to three of whisky: this recipe uses 60 ml of boiling water to 45 ml of Scotch. That keeps it warm and easy to sip, not a hot neat pour.
