What is a Hot Toddy? How is it made? [moved from Boston board]

[sharpless]

There's been some debate amongst my friends, so I thought I would settle the question with some debate amongst you all.

[bolivianita]

My Mom used to make me a great drink of hot milk with rum and sugar when I was sick.

[jenn]

I must confess, I have never liked hot toddies. I was forced to make one while ill once because I ran out of apple cider. I found it way too medicinal--even with the sugar.

What I prefer along those lines is hot spiced buttered cider with dark rum and cognac. I heat cider to just about boiling with some cloves, peppercorns and a dash of cinnamon. I toss a shot of dark rum and half of cognac in a mug with a t of dark brown sugar. I pour the cider into the mug and add a pat of unsalted butter.

sit back, drink and don't go anywhere................

[tdo ca]

Many Irish pubs serve a Hot Whiskey (similar to a toddy), as follows: stud a lemon slice with cloves; muddle a teaspoon of sugar into a shot of whiskey in a glass (both can be adjusted to taste); add clove/lemon and fill glass with hot water; stir.

[butterfly]

In my Irish family, a hot toddy was hot tea with honey and lemon and a shot of whiskey. When I was a kid, it was the perennial before-bed cure for a cold. It was the best thing that got me through my tonsilectomy. And, if I remember correctly, my grandparents made them for us before bed when we stayed with them even--when we weren't sick...

I think cloves would be a nice addition.

[soozycue520]

Okay~~
and ~~
How do you make a Hot Toddy?

[JMF]

A medicinal hot toddy: I take a tall glass and put in a tea bag, fill 3/4 to top with hot water, add juice of one lemon or re-constituted lemon juice, let tea bad steep for a bit and remove, add honey, then top off with several ounces of whickey, nothing special, a mild blend or Canadian is best. It must be drinken while still hot. Self medicate as needed, do not operate heavy machinery. One of these temporarily cures a sore throat, headache, stuffy nose, neck and back pain, stress, depression, ennui and boredom.

[Bostonbob3]

Same in my family.

[JMF]

The most basic is hot water, honey, lemon, and whiskey. From there you have hundreds of variations on the theme.

[Caramel]

Is a toddy with whisky better than brandy? Or does it matter?

[soozycue520]

There are different Toddies {made with whiskey, brandy, rum ~ usually spiced rum}. It depends on individual taste. Usually, the customer will request his/her liquor preference by brand name.

The way I usually make it is whiskey, honey, hot water, a cinnamon stick, garnished with a slice of lemon.

Variations exist, such as hot tea instead of hot water, lemon juice, sugar water, etc., but I believe the recipe I use is basic and easy to make.

Toddies are great when you have a sore throat. They "cure what ails ya"!!

[mrsleny]

I totally agree that hot toddies are medicinal. My spirit of choice is amber rum, mixed with sugar, fresh lemon juice, hot water, cinnamon stick and several cloves.

I always have toddies when I feel a cold coming on.

[Alan408]

In my experience, a hot toddy is any alcoholic drink that is warm/hot (temperature).