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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Hot Toddy

Hot Toddy is a warm, soothing cocktail built around spirit, sweetness and citrus. It works best in cooler weather or quiet evening settings where a gentle, comforting drink makes sense.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic23.7% ABV5 ingredients

At a Glance

179 kcalCalories
23.7%ABV
13.1gSugar
15.1gCarbs
1.27Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition. Some ingredient data may be approximate.

These nutrition figures are approximate estimates for this recipe — actual values vary with your exact measures, brands and serving size.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Easy

Why: 5 ingredients

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

  • 50 mlWhiskeyBase Spirit
  • 15 mlHoneyModifier
  • 1CinnamonModifier
  • 1lemonFruit
  • 2ClovesModifier

How to Make It

  1. STEP 1 Whisk the whisky and honey together and split between 2 heatproof glasses.
  2. Add half of the cinnamon stick to each, then top up with 200ml boiling water.Top
  3. STEP 2 Add a splash of lemon juice to each, then taste and add more to your preference.Add
  4. Finish each with a slice of lemon, studded with a clove, and serve immediately.Serve

How to Serve

Glass
Irish Coffee Cup
Temperature
Warm
Served Warm

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve Hot Toddy cold and taste the citrus balance before adding extra sugar. Fresh citrus usually makes the biggest difference. It is commonly matched with bbq, steak, grilled meat style pairings.

Taste

What does Hot Toddy taste like?

Hot Toddy is bright and tart, with citrus carrying much of the first impression. Sweetness and dilution need to balance the sharpness.

Primary flavours

SpiceHoney

Supporting notes

CitrusOakVanillaTart

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • High ABV
  • Bright and citrusy

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

When to choose it

How to decide if Hot Toddy is right for you

Hot Toddy is best when you want brightness and a clean tart edge. Choose it if citrus balance matters more than richness, creaminess or heavy sweetness. The listed serve is about 23.7% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Hot Toddy if...

Skip Hot Toddy if tart citrus is not what you want. Sour-style drinks rely on acidity, so they can feel sharp when you are looking for richness or sweetness.

When to serve

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

BBQSteakGrilled Meat

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-FreeVegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-SugarVegan

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Hot Toddy at home?
Yes. The Hot Toddy uses 5 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Irish Coffee Cup. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.