Let’s warm up with some hot toddies! They could not be easier to make. For this classic cocktail, you’ll just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon. Unlike your typical mulled wine, wassail or warm cider, hot toddies are light and hydrating rather than overwhelmingly sweet.
Hot toddies are lovely slow sippers or night caps. Mara says they’re perfect for playing cards with the family. You could offer a hot toddy bar at your holiday party this year. I love that idea!
How to Make the Best Hot Toddy
The secret to making the best hot toddy is simple—just tinker with the amount of lemon juice and honey until it suits your taste buds. I’ve provided some guidelines in the recipe below. I think you’ll be surprised by how much an extra teaspoon of lemon juice or honey changes the flavor.
If you order a hot toddy at a bar, you’ll probably receive a whiskey drink. Any good whiskey will do—I’ve enjoyed hot toddies made with Bulleit Rye, Jameson, and Wiser’s.
If you prefer, you can make your hot toddy with dark rum or brandy. You’ll find more ways to change up the drink in my recipe notes.
Watch How to Make Hot Toddies
Hot Toddies for Coughs & Colds
Hot toddies are reported to help reduce cold symptoms, although you really don’t want to overdo it on the whiskey. Your body needs to heal, and the simple combination of warm water, honey and lemon combined can work wonders.
Alcohol doesn’t mix well with over-the-counter and prescription medications. So, no hot toddies for you if you’re taking medicine! Nurse yourself back to health with everything but the whiskey.
More Cocktails to Love
For another warming whiskey drink, make my Irish Coffee recipe! If you’re looking for more holiday-friendly whiskey drinks, don’t miss my Maple New York Sour or Cinnamon-Maple Whiskey Sour.
Here are a few more of my favorite classic cocktails: Moscow Mules, French 75’s, Best Red Sangria, Mimosas, and Fresh Margaritas.
Please let me know how this hot toddy recipe turns out for you in the comments! I really love hearing from you, and your feedback is so important to me.
Classic Hot Toddy
- Author:
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: By hand
- Cuisine: Scottish
Warm up with this classic hot toddy cocktail recipe! Hot toddies are so easy to make. You’ll just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon. Recipe yields 1 cocktail.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup water
- 1 ½ ounces whiskey
- 2 to 3 teaspoons honey, to taste
- 2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
- 1 lemon round
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a teapot or saucepan, bring the water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug.
- Add the whiskey, 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water. Taste, and add 1 teaspoon honey for more sweetness, and/or 1 teaspoon more lemon juice for more zing.
- Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick (if using). Enjoy!
Notes
Make it vegan: Substitute maple syrup for the honey.
Change it up: Instead of whiskey, use brandy or dark/spiced rum. For extra flavor, you could also steep 1 tea bag (green or black tea) in the hot water for 2 to 3 minutes, or add a splash of apple cider. Change up the garnishes by adding a slice of apple or fresh peeled ginger, whole cloves or anise.
Recommended equipment: I love my glass mugs (shown) from Crate and Barrel, and this stainless steel jigger is great for measuring liquor. (Those are affiliate links.)
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Karen
Instead of water try using unsweetened orange juice,omit the lemon, add honey to taste, I use Fireball whiskey but honey JD is also really good.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing how you made it, Karen!
Southern mama cat
I love it! It’s simple to make and warms the body and soul.
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear you enjoyed it!
Jim Pribble
I usually use 1835 whiskey but I switched it up and used Honey Jack. It came out really good.
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Jim! Thank you for your review.
Amy
Love it! Tastes good!
★★★★★
ray kotabish
This has always been a fantastic recipe for me.I am using it as I type this as I have a bad cough and congestion. I prefer Jameson whiskey but have use E&J brandy.Don’t always have a lemon rind but do have lemon juice as well as honey and cinnamon sticks.
Again,a very nice and easy recipe.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Ray! I appreciate your review.
Carey Tolson
Made it with Mr Boston Rock and Rye. Tasted great.
★★★★★
Rebecca
Thanks for the recipe! Having some now to help with a sore throat :)
And just fyi, your glass mugs link doesn’t go straight to them anymore…crate and barrel must have moved things around on their site.
Thanks again!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Rebecca! I appreciate your review.
Paul
If U add a honey to a very hot water, or tea it will kill all the good ingredients in it, it became a sugar simply. The best temperature for honey is below 60 or vene 50C. Do it wisely, because good honey is a treatment itself.
Pia
Made this recipe. It’s so easy and yummy. Great for the season!
★★★★★
Amanda
I have the flu and feel awful. We’re literally having a shortage of every “relief” type medication in our area. I googled for recipes out of desperation and this popped up. It’s fantastic! Tastes great, ingredients I already had on hand, and my throat feels so much better. Thank you for the lovely recipe!
Kate
Oh no! I’m glad it seems to help some. I hope you are already feeling back to normal!
Beverly Danberry
What if you don’t have cinnamon sticks but you have ground cinnamon instead….
Dena
Of course, you could add a pinch of cinnamon. The cinnamon stick is just a garnish, for show; to make it look pretty.
Angela
It’s also wonderful with a good bourbon!
Love Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Waterford Reserve Double Oak, adds a wonderful depth.
★★★★★
Salix
I use ginger tea in place of the water.
★★★★
Cindy
My daughter and I are having one now!!! Thank you for the moment!!! Merry Christmas!!!
Amanda Rae
Tastes great! I used Minnesota maple syrup whiskey and 3 teaspoons of both honey and lemon ✨
Blandine
I made it with raspberry flavoured honey, i had no lemon so used lime it is lovely. Especially when you have a cold. :)
★★★★★
Kate
That sounds interesting! Thank you for sharing, Blandine.
TINA
Hi there! Instead of water, I used apple cider and everyone loved it. I boiled the cider with a cinnamon stick and a few cloves. It is the perfect treat after building a snowman. (:
Kate
Great to hear, Tina!
Pauline
I want to confirm that this hot toddy really takes care of a sore throat. A co-worker told me to make one, didn’t know how to make it so I came to this site, reading the comments most say they just tried it and no comment as to how it helped. Well, on Friday I came home with a really bad so throat made it as soon as I got home and the first drink it made my throat a little better. I heated it up to where it was kind of hot and let me tell you. I was spitting out phelm and my throat later that night felt real good. Woke up the next morning and it was just about gone and it took care of my wannabe cold. Fastest recovery ever had!!!!! : ) It’s Saturday and i’m still drinking for good measure. Right now nose runs a bit but I feel normal not dragging.
★★★★★
Linda Bradley
Drinking a hot toddy every night with a small bottle of Fireball in it got me through.
★★★★★
Wendy Simmons
My husband has pneumonia and is just finishing antibiotics but is still sick. Can I give him a hot toddy? He has a nebuliser and is coughing a lot but doesn’t like it, he wants to get back to work
Kate
I’m not sure, sorry! I would check with his doctor on what is best. I hope he gets better soon!