Hot Toddy with Vodka

Why We Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy: Once all the ingredients are combined and heated, it's just a matter of waiting for the cocktails to steep. Plus, you probably already have these ingredients on hand!
• Warm and cozy: This cocktail is super comforting for the cold winter months. It's best served hot in a heated mug, keeping you extra toasty while sipping (preferably next to a fireplace! Sign us up).
• Perfectly spiced: With notes of ginger, cloves, cinnamon and honey, this hot toddy is packed with warming flavors. It would even be delicious as a mocktail without the vodka!

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this hot toddy with vodka:

Ingredient Notes

• Cinnamon: Whole cinnamon sticks are best here for imparting the most flavor to this cocktail. If you don't have any, you can sub each cinnamon stick with ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
• Vodka: We recommend using a good quality vodka in this cocktail, as it's the star ingredient. Make sure to wait to add the vodka until the end, otherwise the alcohol could boil out. For a more traditional hot toddy, you can substitute vodka with whiskey or bourbon.
• Lemon juice: You have to go with freshly squeezed lemon juice in this cocktail! It's the best way to add flavor and is critical since there are so few ingredients.
• Ginger: Again, fresh is best here for maximum flavor. That said, if you don't have any, you can sub 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger for ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger.
• Cloves: If you don't have any whole cloves, you can use ¾ teaspoon ground cloves for every 1 teaspoon of whole cloves.
• Honey: If you are fully vegan, you can substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.

Instructions

(1) Add water, honey, and lemon juice to a small pot and whisk well. Add cinnamon stick, cloves, and ginger and bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat. 

(2) Reduce heat to low and let the mixture steep for about 25 minutes over low heat.

Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove the spices and ginger.

(3) Optional: Just before serving, pour hot water into your mug and let it sit for 5 minutes. Pour the water out. (This warms up the mug so your drink stays hot for as long as possible. You can also use an insulated mug.)

(4) Add vodka to the mug and pour the honey lemon water over the top. Garnish with fresh lemon slices and a cinnamon stick. Serve hot.

Tips and FAQs

• Whisk away!: Make sure to whisk the honey, lemon juice, and water together well first before adding in the spices. The honey can be slightly thick and needs to be dissolved into the other liquids.
• Heat your mugs: By heating your mugs prior to serving, your hot toddy cocktails will stay extra hot for a longer period of time. You can also just use an insulated mug if you have one! These are meant to sip slowly, so you don't want them to go cold.
• Serve hot: This cocktail is best enjoyed hot so make sure to serve immediately after making.
• Garnish: We love to garnish these hot toddy cocktails with some fresh lemon slices, a cinnamon stick, and a star anise pod.
• Variations: Add in 1-2 lemon or orange peels for extra flavor while steeping. You can also add in other spices, like cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, etc. You can also swap vodka with another liquor of choice, like whiskey/bourbon or even gin.
• Make it vegan: Swap honey for maple syrup or agave nectar.
• Use high quality vodka: Unlike some mixed drinks where the vodka flavor doesn't shine through as much (like this berry basil moscow mule), you definitely taste it in this hot toddy. Higher quality is best for a great tasting cocktail!

More Winter Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy

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