If you are in need of a warming, relaxing, cozy drink to heat you up in the winter, as I am, and if you are obsessed with anything ginger, as I am, then this drink is for you.
In the beginning of January Paul and I took a road trip to central Wisconsin to visit his brother. Of course we picked one of the coldest weekends to travel further north than we already live.
The wind chills were negative 13 in Iowa! It was even worse up in Wisconsin, or at least it seemed that way to me. Our original plan was to spend Saturday skiing down some Midwestern “slopes”. Paul and I didn’t even bring our skis because it was so cold. Think, negative 13 plus add more wind chill as you speed down the hill. No amount of mittens and layers of long underwear was going to keep me warm that day. No thank you!
Instead we spent our day walking around downtown, ducking in and out of shops, and visiting art museums. We weren’t even outside for more than 5 minutes at a time, but if the wind would pick up just a little bit, it would send chills down my entire spine. The only part of my body that wasn’t covered in layers was my face, and it hurt, it literally hurt.
So, when we went to grab some dinner at a really awesome local brewery, I knew I needed something to warm me up from the inside out.
Ice cold beer from a local brewery is definitely not what would warm me up.
I ordered a warm spirit, assuming that it would come in a little dinky after-dinner drink mug. As long as it was warm I didn’t care.
It arrived in a large full-sized mug. It was gingery, a little sweet, with the perfect amount of spice and a hint of warm whiskey. It was just what I needed. It warmed me right up.
Imagine if we would have gone skiing that day. I would have needed about 5 drinks to warm me up!
When I returned from our weekend trip I was determined to make my own version of this alluring, warming drink.
What I came up with is the ultimate Ginger Hot Toddy.
Best part is it only has 4 ingredients and it comes together with just a spoon to stir and a microwave to heat.
It is even Paul-approved, which is a surprising bonus because Paul hates anything that has a strong ginger flavor.
Trust me; if you ever need a drink to warm you up on a wintery night, this is the one.
It is a little sweet with a lot of spicy ginger, and with the warming flavors of honey and a good Irish whiskey. I know what my drink of choice will be this weekend!
This ginger hot toddy will warm you from the inside out. It gets its ginger flavor from ginger beer. All you need is a microwave to warm it up and a spoon to mix.
Ingredients
UnitsScale
1ounce good quality whiskey (I used Jameson Irish Whiskey)
1 tablespoon honey
1 bottle (12 ounces) ginger beer * (see notes for suggestions on ginger beer)
1 wedge of lemon, for garnish and for squeezing
Instructions
In a mug, or a microwave-safe glass add the whiskey and honey. Gently heat in the microwave, just to warm it slightly. Use a spoon to mix the honey into the whiskey, until dissolved.
Pour in the bottle of ginger beer, stir to combine. Gently heat in the microwave until warm. You don’t want it to be hot like tea or coffee, because the carbonation and the spiciness of the ginger beer irritate the back of the throat if served too hot.
Serve immediately with a lemon wedge on the rim. I like the lemon squeezed into the hot toddy.
Notes
*Do not use ginger ale for this recipe. I recently learned that the difference between ginger ale and ginger beer is huge. Ginger ale is more of a traditional pop that has a little artificial ginger flavoring; it has much more of a syrupy consistency and is much more sugary. Ginger beer, on the other hand, is made from fresh ginger juice and is usually sweetened with natural cane sugar. The ginger flavor is very intense and is usually quite a bit spicy, like true ginger should be. Ginger beer is usually non-alcoholic, although there are a few brands that do contain alcohol. I found my ginger beer in the organic section of my local grocery store. If you can’t find it in a store I suggest looking online.
For more information on selecting brands of ginger beer, read this post by Love and Olive Oil
Best consumed in small doses and infrequently, Hot Toddies can only be served as as medicine to those 21 and over, should not replace a medical professional's advice, and are best followed by a tall glass of water, some herbal tea, and plenty of rest and TLC.
Irish Whiskey: Known for its smoothness and light sweetness, brands like Jameson and Bushmills blend well without overpowering the other ingredients. Bourbon: With its rich, vanilla, and caramel notes, bourbon like Maker's Mark or Woodford Reserve adds depth and complements the honey and lemon in the toddy.
Whether it is an old wives tale or the truth, a Hot Toddy is said to alleviate a cold because it is a decongestant. In “clinical” terms, the alcohol in whiskey dilates the blood vessels, making it easier for your body to deal with the infection.
Adding spices, such as ginger, to a hot toddy may also have benefits. There is, however, no evidence to suggest that alcohol can help with the symptoms. Doctors often recommend that people avoid drinking alcohol when they have a cold or flu.
A hot toddy, also known as hot whiskey in Ireland, and occasionally called southern cough syrup within the Southern United States, is typically a mixed drink made of liquor and water with honey (or in some recipes, sugar), lemon, herbs (such as tea) and spices, and served hot.
The hot toddy is not one of those drinks that you down simply to get drunk. It is more of an experience and a way to relax, so its alcohol content may be irrelevant for the most part. However, for the curious drinker, you can expect it to weigh in around 6 percent ABV (12 proof).
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.
Is a Hot Toddy Good for a Cough? Yes. The alcohol can help clear mucus by dilating blood vessels in the upper body. The steam from the hot water might also help to clear congestion.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes leading from the lungs and can feel like drowning. A standard toddy - base spirit, citrus, spices, honey and hot water - is soothing for this and any other type of respiratory distress to calm nerves and temporarily reduce swelling.
To make a hot toddy, you'll need bourbon (which is a type of whiskey), honey, lemons, cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, and whole cloves. Simply combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and honey in a mug and add boiling water (use more or less water depending on how strong you'd like your hot toddy to be).
With the goal of consuming the alcohol, any evaporated alcohol is a small affront to the holiday season. But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process.
Whiskey is an effective decongestant. The alcohol dilates the blood vessels. The steam from the hot beverages works with the decongestant benefits of the alcohol and makes it easier for the mucus membranes to deal with nasal congestion.
Most pediatricians nowadays discourage the use of alcohol in any treatments for children. They are especially susceptible to low blood sugar after consuming alcohol.
Because toddy is prepared and stored in unhygienic condition and consumers are usually economically poor, malnourished, and have an unhealthy lifestyle, the chances of parasitic contamination, transmission and infection remain high with toddy consumption.
Drinking whiskey before bed might help you relax and get some Zzz's. Just be sure to keep it light and don't rely on it as a sleep aid. Too much whiskey can have the opposite effect and can disrupt your sleep.
We use Flora's Mānuka honey and Ginger+Lemon Apple Cider Vinegar wellness tonic to sweeten and flavor our hot toddy. The Mānuka honey has floral, earthy, and caramel notes, while the Ginger+Lemon ACV adds a dash of herbal tanginess. They also help support your digestion and immunity!
Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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The wind chills were negative 13 in Iowa! It was even worse up in Wisconsin, or at least it seemed that way to me. Our original plan was to spend Saturday skiing down some Midwestern “slopes”. Paul and I didn’t even bring our skis because it was so cold. Think, negative 13 plus add more wind chill as you speed down the hill. No amount of mittens and layers of long underwear was going to keep me warm that day. No thank you!
