Here are two Hot Toddy recipes that have all the flavoursome qualities of the very best Toddies without the annoying bits. End of.
The Smoky Toddy
The smoky one delivers the flavours of mulled wine with a peaty smoky lick. Perfect in front of an open fire or as a warming drink when it’s snowing or freezing outside!
The Spicy Toddy
The hot toddy swaps the Islay whisky for a blended one and it delivers the mulled wine like flavour without the smoky peaty lick.
Which Whisky?
As you are infusing your whisky with highly flavoured spices, it is hardly worth wasting a expensive branded single malt or a premium blended whisky on making your hot toddy. My advice is to invest in one the supermarket’s premium own-branded versions and save your peaty smoky Laphroaig and your silky smooth Chivas Regal for sipping when the weather warms up.
Hot Smoky Toddy
Ingredients:
100ml bottled still water or filtered
Tablespoon of brown sugar
5 cloves
Cinnamon stick
Zested Lemon peel
50ml Islay Whisky (Smoky Peaty Whisky)
Method:
Why still bottled water or filtered water? It’s simply not worth the risk of ruining the taste of your toddy with the flavours of the chemicals that are used to treat your tap water. Unless of course that you are more than happy that your tap water is taint free.
Add the water and all the ingredients except the whisky to a saucepan and bring to a bubbling boil for around 5 minutes. Your water will now be infused fully with the spices, lemon zest and the sugar.
Why don’t you add the whisky at the beginning? Alcohol burns off at around 79c whereas water is 100c. Most drinkers don’t want their toddy to be reduced even more, by the bubbling of the alcohol away!
Now remove the added ingredients by pouring the sweet flavoursome liquid through a sieve into another saucepan. Add the Islay whisky and bring to a bubbling boil.
Serve in a glass or mug with a handle or holder. Why? No problem if you’re drinking your Toddy with your gloves on, but for many the regular drinking glass will be too hot to hold.
Spicy Hot Toddy
Simply swap the Smoky Islay whisky for a blended whisky. In most cases the Supermarket’s own branded versions will hit the hot toddy spot.
Not sure which whisky to buy for your hot toddy? The ‘I want to drink’ section on the Can I Eat it? iPhone & iPad App gives you helpful tasting notes for most whiskies on the shelf. Try the app now
Not Forgetting:
Barcode: 01691252
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 12 Year Old Islay Malt Whisky
Want a smoky peaty whisky? Put a bottle of this 12 Year Old in the trolley. Competing Brands: Bowmore, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Caol Ila & Bruichladdich.
Barcode: 5051413713310
ASDA Extra Special Islay Malt Whisky
Want a competitively priced peaty smoky whisky that competes with the leading brands without trading down in quality? If the style, size and price fits – put a bottle in the trolley. Competing Brands: Bowmore, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Caol Ila & Bruichladdich
Barcode: 00386159
Marks & Spencer Special Reserve Kenmore Aged 5 Years Blended Scotch Whisky
As good as the leading brands. If the price fits – put a bottle in the trolley.
Competing Brands: Teacher’s, Bells, Grant’s & Famous Grouse
Barcode: 25157888
ALDI 8 Year Old Highland Black Blended Whisky Scotland
Enjoyable dram! A harmonious blend of malt and grain whisky. If you are whisky and mixer drinker? Put a bottle in the trolley.
Competing Brand: Bells
Can I Eat It? 