Hot Toddy Nice & Naughty

Here’s a fun little game you can play. Go ask someone – preferably someone not wearing arm garters or quoting Jerry Thomas – and ask them what’s in a Hot Toddy. The more people you try this game with, the better, because you’re going to get a lot of varied answers. But I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that you’re going to hear a few of the following ingredients: Lemon…Ginger…Honey…Cinnamon Sticks…Cloves…Cayenne Pepper.

The funny thing is that if you look at the earliest Hot Toddy recipe as it appears in Jerry Thomas’ 1862 Bar-Tender’s Guide, it contains NONE of those the things!

HERES THE ORIGINAL RECIPE…

1 tsp fine white sugar

1 wine glass of brandy

Dissolve the sugar in a little boiling water. Add the brandy and the pour the boiling water into the glass until it is two thirds full. Grate a little nutmeg on top. So…water, sugar, brandy, nutmeg. Not even a lousy lemon peel, ha!

SPICED CRANBERRY HOT TODDY

Now that you know the old school recipe, let’s get a bit naughty and take things up a notch with a different spin on this classic. Here in the Lowcountry, Fall is almost nonexistent so we have to take it where we can get it, and this cup of soul warming goodness is literally like Fall in a glass.

2 cups cranberry juice

1/2 small orange 

2 cinnamon sticks

1 piece fresh ginger

1/2 tsp black peppercorns

1/2 tsp cloves

2 star anise

1/4-1/2 cup water

3-4 oz Knob Creek Honey Maple Bourbon

1. Add cranberry juice, orange, cinnamon sticks, ginger, peppercorns, cloves, and star anise in a small sauce pan and bring to a simmer over medium high heat. Turn to low, partially cover with a lid, and let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and put the lid all the way on for a few more minutes. 

2. Remove the lid and strain the mixture, the return it to the pan and stir in the water. 

3. Pour 1.5 oz to 2 oz bourbon into each 8oz glass and then pour in the hot cranberry mixture.

4. Stir and enjoy hot!