Hot Toddy

This classic hot toddy recipe is a great way to warm up on a cold night! This soothing drink is easy to make with hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon.

Hot toddy

Learn how to make a hot toddy! Made with hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon juice, this classic drink is a famous home remedy for a cough or a cold. When Jack has a sore throat, he always makes this hot toddy recipe to soothe it.

But you don’t have to be under the weather to enjoy this simple cocktail. Though I’m typically not a whiskey drinker, I love a hot toddy on a cold fall or winter night. Garnished with a cinnamon stick and a slice of lemon, it’s such a cozy way to warm up. Cheers!

Hot toddy ingredients

What’s in a hot toddy?

You’ll need 5 simple ingredients to make this classic hot toddy recipe:

  • Hot water – Heat water in the microwave until it steams, or boil it in an electric tea kettle or on the stove. Let the boiling water cool for 2 minutes before stirring together your drink.
  • Whiskey – Bourbon, rye, and Irish whiskey are all great. We like Bulleit, Koval, and Black Box. Though it’s not traditional, dark rum is another tasty option.
  • Fresh lemon – You’ll add lemon juice to the cocktail (freshly squeezed is best!). I also like to garnish it with a lemon slice or a strip of lemon zest.
  • Honey – For sweetness. Maple syrup is nice here too.
  • And spices – Optional, but delicious! Garnish your cocktail with a cinnamon stick or whole cloves for warming, aromatic flavor. You could even use star anise for a licorice-like taste.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Pouring boiling water into a mug

How to Make a Hot Toddy

Hot toddies are one of the simplest cocktails to make. The only special equipment you need is a mug!

Add the hot water, whiskey, lemon juice, and honey to the mug, and stir until the honey dissolves.

Then, taste and adjust. As with any homemade cocktail, the best hot toddy will be one that you make to your liking. If you want your cocktail to be brighter, add more lemon. For more sweetness, add more honey. For a stronger drink, stir in an extra splash of liquor. Have fun finding a balance of flavors you love.

Garnish your mug with a lemon wheel and spices, and enjoy!

Variation: How to Make a Hot Toddy for a Cold

Though hot toddies are known as cold remedies, I like to avoid alcohol when I’m under the weather. If you do too, you may want to adapt this hot toddy recipe into an non-alcoholic drink to soothe a sore throat or relieve other cold symptoms.

  • Simply omit the whiskey from the recipe.
  • If you like, replace the hot water with hot tea. I love ginger or chamomile tea here.

Hot toddy recipe

More Cocktail Recipes to Try

If you love this recipe, try one of these classic cocktails next:

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Hot Toddy

rate this recipe:
5 from 15 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves 1
A hot toddy cocktail is a warming whiskey drink made with hot water, honey, and lemon. Though hot toddies are known as cold remedies, we love to make this recipe throughout the fall and winter. It's so cozy on a cold night!

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup hot water
  • 1½ ounces whiskey, such as Bulleit, Koval, or Black Box
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 lemon round, or 1 (3-inch) piece lemon peel
  • 1 cinnamon stick, or 3 whole cloves, optional, for garnish

Instructions

  • In a mug, stir together the hot water, whiskey, lemon juice, and honey until the honey dissolves. Taste and adjust as desired.
  • Garnish with the lemon round and cinnamon stick, if using.

 

15 comments

5 from 15 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Perry
    10.30.2024

    I had it with bbq steelhead wow so good

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      11.01.2024

      So glad you loved it!

  2. james123
    10.14.2024

    5 stars
    Good idea for delicious recipe

  3. Great to have an actual recipe for a toddy! I’ve never made one but I enjoy them. Thanks!

  4. Jill
    10.10.2024

    5 stars
    Hot toddies have been a staple in my family for years upon years. My grandma would give it to me when I was much younger to help with my colds in the winter. At that time I had no clue what was in it, I just knew it made me sleep real good. Lol

  5. Sabrina from newkitchenlife.com
    12.20.2021

    yes a great antidote to chill, in the best way too, so thank you, love all of these citrus flavors too, thank you

  6. Laurie
    10.29.2019

    This recipe was amazing! We side by side tested it with another hot toddy recipe on a super snowy October day. This recipe won by a landslide!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      10.30.2019

      Hi Laurie, I’m so thrilled it won! 🙂

  7. Rachel
    09.17.2019

    5 stars
    Made this with Stash ginger tea and it was delightful! Also, love the glass mugs in the photo – mind telling me where they’re from!?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.23.2019

      Hi Rachel, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! The mugs are from IKEA 🙂

  8. anxietynaturopathtoronto
    06.20.2019

    5 stars
    Thank you Jeanine and Jack. Ginger Tea makes everything healthier and spicier. Love it!

  9. Corrie
    12.31.2018

    Which ginger tea do you recommend? This sounds lovely for the snowy New Years we’ll be having!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.31.2018

      Hi Corrie, I love Traditional Medicinals tea!

  10. Gaby Dalkin
    12.30.2018

    Such a perfect way to end 2018!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.