The Cocktail Napkin - A Hot Toddy

Publisher
02/26/2019 07:39 PM (update 04/10/2023 11:09 PM)

By Jo Petteruti, Mixologist and Owner, Jo’s Stillwater Tea Room

Feeling chilly these days? It does seem that this winter is especially endless and so are those chills. So, today's Cocktail Napkin is dedicated to deterring some of those chills with a warm beverage suggestion.

Two wonderful warm beverage choices this winter are the Hot Buttered Rum and the Hot Toddy – and one of them can even provide some old fashioned relief for cold symptoms. What a bonus, right? Growing up, whenever I came down with a bad cold my grandmother would mix together honey, lemon and hot water with a touch of brandy in this little cup she had. Sipping that warm beverage sure felt good going down and it really did help me to feel better. Little did I know back then that she was making me little hot toddies! Add a couple of slices of fresh ginger if you're feeling congested because it's been known to relieve nasal sinus issues.

The history of both drinks dates back to the 1600s. According to the website VinePair, “The toddy as we know it started in British-controlled India. In the 1610s, dictionary.com notes, the Hindi word “taddy” meant “beverage made from fermented palm sap.” By 1786, taddy was officially written down and defined as “beverage made of alcoholic liquor with hot water, sugar, and spices.” Another origin story tells the tale of an Irish doctor named Robert Bently Todd, who ordered his patients to drink hot brandy, cinnamon and sugar water. Regardless of the true origin, the drink made its way across the pond to the American colonies.”

Interestingly, the Hot Buttered Rum is also known as a type of hot toddy, but with a Caribbean and Latin American flair. This one has its origins in Europe, where hot, spiced alcohol-spiked beverages have for centuries been used to fortify souls against bitterly cold winters. When the British Royal Navy captured Jamaica in 1655, rum replaced brandy as the sailors’ daily ration.

Naturally, the Tea Room has its own spin on these two beverages and we try to incorporate local ingredients as available. For example, one of the whiskey choices we offer in our toddy is from the Verdi Local Distillery which is just west of Reno.

Here are our two recipes – very easy to make:

Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Verdi Local Apple Whiskey – other favorites include Woody Creek Rye and Jameson Whiskey

• 2 tbl. Honey

• 1 slice fresh Lemon

• 8 oz. Hot water

Preparation:

• Dissolve the honey in hot water in the cup.

• Squeeze and drop the lemon slice into the mix, then add the chosen spirit and stir well.

Hot Buttered Rum

Ingredients: