I want to start by saying if you have never had a Hot Toddy, I feel sorry for you! This drink is therapeutic and your go-to during winters.
Did you know that Hot Toddy is referred by some doctors to cure sour throats as well? This rendition of this classic cocktail features spices being boiled in like a concoction kind of way, leaving a beautiful note of flavour. It’s best for those who likes to avoid Ice and Cold Drinks during winter and are still looking to drink. Let’s learn more about it.
Ingredients:
1. Cognac – the medicinal liquor. Cognac is what you use to warm yourself up and has proved to have great notes of medical properties to cure sour throats. This is the star ingredient of this dish. Read below for more Cognac brands, which you can buy.
2. Lemon Juice – this is done to add sourness to the drink. If you like your drinks a bit more sour, you can add in lemon slices as well along with this juice. Absolutely, what you enjoy!
3. Star Anrise, Clove and Cinnamon Stick – I can’t stress on it but fresh spices are the most important aspect of this drink. The flavours, texture and notes of these 3 key ingredients add so much life to the drink. This is what will make your Hot Toddy from good to great! Make sure you are using fresh and good quality ingredients for the best flavours.
6. Water – this would give a good base to all ingredients and will act as the needed base to make this hot conoction.
7. Honey – something to add sweetness to your drink and honey’s flavour is the best kind for this Hot Toddy. Just a small amount can definitely go a long way in making this drink more palatable.
8. Brown Sugar (Optional) – If you like your drinks a bit more sweeter, add a bit of Brown Sugar or even Stick! I added brown sugar in my Hot Toddy to balance the spices and sourness, and it paid off.
Cognac & it’s Glassware
I have talked about Cognac and its medicinal properties enough. So to get to the brands and its substitutes, read more about it. I used Hennessy VSOP for this recipe. You can use VS Hennessy as well, both works very well.
For another alternative, you can substitute Cognac with Dark Rum and use India’s favourite Old Monk as the star ingredient.
Traditionally, Hot Toddy and Cognac is served in a Cognac Glass (as pictured above). It looks like a dwarf-ish wine glass and is the ideal way to have it.
Equipment
- Sauce Pan (Small)
Ingredients
- 120 ml Cognac or Dark Rum (Hennessy or Old Monk)
- 20 ml Lemon Juice
- 200 ml Water
- 2-3 Star Anrise
- 4-5 Cloves
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar optional
- 2-3 Cinnamon Sticks
Instructions
- Begin by simmering water in a Sauce Pan until it becomes hot. Add in the honey and mix well until dissolved.
- Next, add in the lemon juice and mix well. Follow this by addition of Star Anise and Clove and mix well.
- Add in Cognac or Dark Rum and give it a good stir. The mix at this point would be hot and you should be able to see some steam.
- Finally add in Cinnamon Stick and Brown Sugar, mix slowly and well until Brown Sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and pour the concoction into your glassware.
- Garnish with a Cinnamon Stick and Star Anise from the mix. Add in a sliced lemon, if you feel like it. Have hot & fresh.
Someone once rightly said “a recipe has no soul, you must bring soul to the recipe”, so here I am, trying to bring my passion for food into easy to make recipes from around the world.
My name is Sohail Nath and I welcome you to my happy place, @boy.eatsworld.
This blog, my creativity’s nest covers travel inspirations, authentic yet homemade recipe and food blogs.