SUE BEE® Hot Hot Toddy

Curling up with a toasty-warm drink on a cold winter evening is a traditional nightcap for many. A hot toddy recipe – or, as some spell it, “hot tottie” or “hot toddie” – is simple: a little whiskey or brandy, a few spices, some hot water, and voilà! A hot toddy! And, of course, we always add a teaspoon of SUE BEE® honey to ours!

The origins of the hot toddy are blurry – kind of like your vision if you enjoy too many in one sitting – but they are often traced back to Ireland or Scotland, circa 18th century. Others trace the origins to British-controlled India during the same period. (And here we thought it was just a concoction our grandparents invented!)

Wherever they began, the hot toddy was – and still is – frequently used as a solution for colds to soothe a sore throat and relieve congestion. In fact, the hot toddy is so popular these days that it has taken on the role of chicken soup for adults. Feeling achy? Stuffed nose? Try a hot toddy. There’s even a chicken soup hot toddymade with chicken stock!

The word “toddy” is just as much a mystery as the origins of the drink. One belief is that it comes from the Hindi word “tari,” which refers to a type of palm sap that is fermented and used to make a sweet drink. That sweet drink was popular in India and Southeast Asia and, over time, became popular in other parts of the world, particularly in the Caribbean where it was made from other ingredients such as rum and honey. In the Caribbean, it is an especially popular drink during the holiday season and is usually served warm with spices such as nutmeg or cinnamon.

Of course, like many things, as time went on, the hot toddy evolved and has now become a popular anytime drink, especially for someone fighting a cold. And it’s still evolving today. Take our new toddy twist – the SUE BEE® INFUSIONS™ Hot Hot Honey Toddy. We’ve taken the traditional hot toddy and mixed in a half-ounce of our new zesty and sweet honey. It’s a sweet-and-spicy heat that turns that hot toddy on its ear. Want to try one? Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 oz whiskey, rum or bourbon
• 1/2 oz SUE BEE® INFUSIONS™ Hot Honey
• 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup hot water
• Cinnamon stick

Directions

In a teapot, bring the water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug.

Add the whiskey, rum or bourbon, ½ ounce of honey and lemon juice. 

Stir until the honey has blended the hot water.

Taste, and add more honey more sweetness.

Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Enjoy!