The 5 Best Whiskeys to Use for a Hot Toddy

It’s winter, cold outside, and everyone needs something to warm them up. What better way to do so than with a hot toddy? But what exactly is a hot toddy? A Hot Toddy is simply whiskey with honey, lemon juice, and hot water. It’s an easy drink that packs a punch of warmth on those chilly days that are perfect for snuggling by the fireplace. Hot toddies are so simple that you could drink them all the time and still enjoy a wide variety of flavors depending on the whiskey you use. The more expensive the whiskey, the better right? Well, not necessarily. Here are the five best whiskeys to use for a hot toddy.

5. Jameson Irish Whiskey

When making cocktails or liquor in general, you should never forget that quality is essential. Jameson Irish Whiskey is a premium whiskey from Ireland. It is distilled from malted and un-malted barley, yeast, and water. It is aged in ex-bourbon barrels charred over oak staves, thus creating the distinctive taste of Jameson Irish Whiskey. Jameson Irish Whiskey’s intense flavors of caramel and vanilla make a great toddy. It is also sweeter than other whiskeys, which can be good if you’re looking for something sweet but not as sickly as a shot of straight whiskey.

4. Jack Daniels

Jack Daniels is a Tennessee whiskey containing 80% corn, 15% rye, and 5% malted barley, which is then distilled in a column. It’s then aged for a minimum of four years in oak barrels. When you’re making a hot toddy, you don’t want something too heavy or has complex flavors. Jack Daniels delivers a smooth whiskey that is easy to drink but still strong enough to pack a punch. This whiskey stands out from others because of the strong honey and caramel flavor with hints of vanilla and woody undertones. The robust and smoky flavor of Jack Daniels goes well with the spicy flavor of ginger in the toddy. However, if you’re looking for something smoother, move on to the next whiskey on this list.

3. Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

The distinctive taste of Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey results from its Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that is aged for a minimum of four years. The whiskey has a light and smooth flavor with cinnamon, oak, and vanilla hints. People like to spice up their drinks with flavors like ginger or cinnamon in the wintertime. However, you can also use these spices in hot toddies to make an even more robust flavored drink. The spicy flavor of ginger and cinnamon gives a hot toddy an equally strong punch of flavor that will warm you up from the inside out. The balance of this whiskey is perfect for hot toddies because it isn’t too strong or too weak. Unlike Jack Daniels and Jameson Irish Whiskey with a strong caramel flavor, this whiskey is smoother than the other two whiskeys but still has that strong flavor. You don’t want something too heavy when making a hot toddy, so that this whiskey will work perfectly. Its light, smooth taste with hints of sweet vanilla makes it a perfect drink for enjoying straight or mixed.

2. Old Forester Signature White Whiskey

Old Forester is a premium line of whiskeys from Kentucky that have been aged for at least four years in barrels of charred white oak. The line includes the standard Old Forester, aged five years, and the Signature Old Forester, aged ten years in traditional bourbon casks. Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is a strong, smoky whiskey with a creamy, caramel taste, a very smooth and easy to drink straight since it’s mild. When making a hot toddy, you don’t want something so strong that it will knock you on your ass because you won’t enjoy the drink. The body of this whiskey is low for its strength. It has the perfect balance of strong and is easy to drink. It is sweet and smooth enough that you can enjoy it straight, but it also packs a punch of flavor.

1. Bulleit Bourbon

Bulleit Bourbon has only two ingredients, corn and rye. It is distilled in small batches to ensure quality each time a bottle is released to the market. It is then aged in new charred white oak barrels that have been used previously to age bourbon. It’s bottled at a higher proof than most other bourbons but not over-the-top. The high-quality ingredients and the long aging process result in a smoky taste with hints of vanilla and oak. Bulleit Bourbon’s strong, sweet flavor makes it a perfect hot toddy whiskey. It is strong enough to stand up to the hot water and lemon juice but not so strong that you’ll only want a tiny sip. The intense yet smooth flavor of Bulleit Bourbon makes it perfect for drinking straight or mixed with honey, lemon juice, and hot water.

How to Make a Toddy?

Making a hot toddy is simple, but do keep in mind that the ingredients you use will significantly influence the flavor of your drink. Here’s how to make one.

Mix 2-3 ounces of whiskey with one tablespoon of honey. You can also use two tablespoons of honey if you dislike sweetness too much. If you want to make it sweeter, add more honey or use more lemon juice.
Muddle a quarter of a teaspoon of lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon of grated ginger. You can also use lemon peel if you don’t have the grated ginger.
Add up some hot water to the cup and stir everything together. If you want it to be fizzy, add club soda to the mix. To make your drink an alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktail, add 2 ounces of vodka, gin, or rum (optional).
Serve hot but let it cool down before you drink it. Enjoy!

Summing Up

A hot toddy is a perfect cocktail for a wintery night when you feel down and need something to warm you up. You can enjoy it at any time of day as long as you have the ingredients on hand. However, depending on what you add to your hot toddy, your drink can have subtle hints of flavor that won’t overpower the cinnamon or ginger. The best whiskey to use in a hot toddy is Bulleit Bourbon because of its smooth, smoky taste that isn’t too strong or weak.