So, this post is delayed by a few days. I was going to make a nice post about some of my favorite winter warm-up drinks, like hot toddies and how they are not only delicious, but also medicinal… I made my drinks, I took my pictures, and then my throat started to hurt, I began to feel achy and chilled, and before I knew it, I was hit with a cold/flu/nastiness. I have been sleeping as much as possible and drinking lots of hot water/lemon/honey/ginger and I’m already feeling much better.
So, what is a hot toddy? A mixed drink, served hot traditionally made with whiskey, lemon, and honey.
I enjoy a traditional toddy when the weather starts getting chilly but by December, I’m ready to shake it up a little bit. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I love pairing blackberry and whiskey. So, I made a Hot Blackberry Ginger Toddy… it just what I needed. The blackberry and honey mix so well, and with the fresh lemon juice it doesn’t get too sweet. Beam Black is my go-to for a drink like this- big enough flavors to stand up through the blackberry/ginger, but it still blends well into the cocktail. The ginger is absolutely necessary for me, but feel free to leave it out if you don’t have any or don’t like it. I need the bite of fresh ginger to balance the other flavors, but I understand fresh ginger is too much for many people. (ps – sorry for the not-great phots… this is all that I got before I accidentally drank it in my haze of oncoming sickness.)
- Hot Blackberry-Ginger Toddy
- 1oz Honey (locally sourced is best, thank you Don Popp’s Honey Farm)
- .5oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 4 Blackberries
- ¼ – ½ inch piece of fresh Ginger, peeled and rough chopped
- 1.5oz Beam Black
- 5oz near boiling water
In a heat proof measuring glass combine Honey, Lemon Juice, Blackberries, and Ginger. Muddle the blackberries into the honey and lemon. Add Beam Black. Top with water and carefully stir to combine. Cover the top of the glass and let steep for 4 minutes. Pour through fine mesh strainer into your favorite mug and enjoy.
Do you have a favorite take on the Hot Toddy?
Up next… my Favorite White Christmas Hot Chocolate….