Classic Hot Toddy
Warm up with this classic hot toddy cocktail recipe! Hot toddies are so easy to make. You'll just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon. Cheers!
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 1, 2024
Let’s warm up with some hot toddies! They could not be easier to make. For this classic cocktail, you’ll just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon. Unlike your typical mulled wine, wassail or warm cider, hot toddies are light and hydrating rather than overwhelmingly sweet.
Hot toddies are lovely slow sippers or night caps. Mara says they’re perfect for playing cards with the family. You could offer a hot toddy bar at your holiday party this year. I love that idea!
How to Make the Best Hot Toddy
The secret to making the best hot toddy is simple—just tinker with the amount of lemon juice and honey until it suits your taste buds. I’ve provided some guidelines in the recipe below. I think you’ll be surprised by how much an extra teaspoon of lemon juice or honey changes the flavor.
If you order a hot toddy at a bar, you’ll probably receive a whiskey drink. Any good whiskey will do—I’ve enjoyed hot toddies made with Bulleit Rye, Jameson, and Wiser’s.
If you prefer, you can make your hot toddy with dark rum or brandy. You’ll find more ways to change up the drink in my recipe notes.
Watch How to Make Hot Toddies
Hot Toddies for Coughs & Colds
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. So, no hot toddies for you if you’re taking medicine! Nurse yourself back to health with everything but the whiskey.
More Cocktails to Love
For another warming whiskey drink, make my Irish Coffee recipe! If you’re looking for more holiday-friendly whiskey drinks, don’t miss my Maple New York Sour or Cinnamon-Maple Whiskey Sour.
Here are a few more of my favorite classic cocktails: Moscow Mules, French 75’s, Best Red Sangria, Mimosas, and Fresh Margaritas.
Please let me know how this hot toddy recipe turns out for you in the comments! I really love hearing from you, and your feedback is so important to me.
Classic Hot Toddy
Warm up with this classic hot toddy cocktail recipe! Hot toddies are so easy to make. You’ll just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon. Recipe yields 1 cocktail.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup water
- 1 ½ ounces whiskey
- 2 to 3 teaspoons honey, to taste
- 2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
- 1 lemon round
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a tea kettle or small saucepan, bring the water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug.
- Add the whiskey, 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water. Taste, and add 1 teaspoon honey for more sweetness, and/or 1 teaspoon more lemon juice for more zing.
- Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick (if using). Enjoy!
Notes
Make it vegan: Substitute maple syrup for the honey.
Change it up: Instead of whiskey, use brandy or dark/spiced rum. For extra flavor, you could also steep 1 tea bag (green or black tea) in the hot water for 2 to 3 minutes, or add a splash of apple cider. Change up the garnishes by adding a slice of apple or fresh peeled ginger, whole cloves or anise.
Recommended equipment: I love my glass mugs (shown) from Crate and Barrel, and this stainless steel jigger is great for measuring liquor. (Those are affiliate links.)
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
This was fabulous! I substituted Myers dark rum and agave syrup for the whiskey and Honey. I’ll be taking your suggestion and serving these in the form of a hot toddy bar at Thanksgiving. Thanks for this great recipe!
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing this. Up until now I was making apple cider hot toddies, but always found them to sweet. This is perfect a cold NYC December night! I can’t wait to try your recipe for Irish coffee. I haven’t had it since I tried it for the first time in San Francisco year and i absolutely fell in love with it.
I’m glad it’s perfect for you, Ana! Thank you for your review.
Easy to make & versatile ingredients.
Enjoyed the drink on a cold, rainy night.
Thanks
Made Hot Toddy. So happy to see your recipe online. Had Spinal fusion done middle if November still having issues with congestion. Hot Toddy has calmed me down. So enjoyedit.
Not a fan of whiskey but what my son had on sheld is wonderful. Nice & smooth. Had blk tea honey Lemon whiskey so nice!! Helps soothe sore throat from couphing spells. Keep it up & i greatly appreciate. your time & help.
Merry Christmas & a wonderful New Year.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one, Kathy! I appreciate your review.
Delicious and just the right thing to snuggle up with in bed on a cold night and watch a movie.
This classic hot toddy is really delicious! I didn’t think I’d like it because I don’t like whiskey, but I LOVED it! It’s so good, very light, and just makes you feel warm and cozy. Definitely going to make another one!
I’m happy to hear that, Joy! Thank you for your review.
Our daughter has been making this for a few nights now and we really love it!
Very good for cold nights and is addicting.
Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome, Marilou! I appreciate your review.
I like brandy hot toddy. I’ve drank them for years.
This is just what the doctor ordered.. I also put some grated ginger in a a tea strainer and let it soak with the hot water and lemon for 10 minutes or so. Ginger is a good anti-inflammatory and has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties so great for colds and flu! I adore your book Kate
I don’t have any lemon juice so I used lime juice, and it is delicious! I’m sipping right now as I ice my foot (athletic injury). The warmth of the Toddy balances out the ice pack on my foot!
Thank you for sharing! I’m glad it’s helping. Feel better soon!
A very delicious drink on a cold winter evening! And the ease of making! Almost no mess (except for some drops of honey). Loved it!
Great to hear, Alex! I appreciate your review.
Too much whiskey and sugar for me – Had the opposite effect I was looking for: Woke up cold and couldn’t fall back to sleep. Got an alcohol and sugar rush that gave me the heebee geebees and sent my stomach into chaos. Guess I have to tweak the alcohol and honey amounts – especially since I was using Jack Daniels Honey and I’m not a drinker – especially not hard liquor.
I’m sorry you didn’t love this one, Fay.
I added a pinch of ginger, and used ground cinnamon, also I’ve always mixed everything together and brought it all to boil together rather then water separate and add other things. Works wonders though and I hope it will again because in bety congested and have a cough. Also only had 1 oz of lemon this time so also added 1 oz of lime as well.
Thanks
Made this for hubby as it was fairly cool ouout, gusty winds made it feel a bit cooler than it was, (low – mid 60’s), in
N. CA. He’s a Brandy drinker so I used Brandy. He said it was great. Thank you.
Myimmune system is out of whack so I’ve picked up a cold i remember my good old dad always gave me a hot toddy when i was sick (he passed 20 yrs ago)I don’t think there was alcohol in it mainly because i was a child but i loved it. Found your recipe its so devine and i put whiskey in it! Feeling so much better already looking forward to another mug tomorrow night and bringing back those wonderful memories.
Love this drink just made it for the first time and it’s so good.
Your recipe turned out great! Loved the additional “Change it up” options as well.
I’m glad, Amanda! Thank you for your review.
Most delicious! I am a fan of rye and Scotch. Trader Joe’s has a lovely blended Scotch. I adjusted as you suggested. Less honey. More lemon. A clove or two. Serious yumminess. Many thanks for posting this recipe.
I prefer to make my toddy’s with wild turkey 101, I find the higher proof to help rid of whatever is icky, as I tend to not go to hospitals, or medication, unless the ailment is life, limb or eyesight. Plus it helps me get to sleep a little easier with the higher proof alcohol. Everything else is spot on though, might try the cinnamon stick next time. Cheers and feel better!
Yummy! This tasty little beverage is like a warm hug and perfect for easing into Fall!
I like that, a warm hug. Thank you for sharing, Amy!
Made it!! One with whiskey, one with tea, added ginger, honey, splash of apple cider, lemon rind and a cinnamon stick!!! Fantastic!!
Thank you for sharing your variation, Marcella!
I bought Jim Beam whiskey to try this drink recipe. I have never had whiskey before and I understand nothing about it, so I’m not sure if this is a universal experience…but did anyone else end up tasting apple cider with this recipe? Between the whiskey, lemon, honey, and I used cinnamon sticks? I sure did. And I tried it three times! Just tonight! ;-)
I just fixed this a d I’m pleased with the results. Thanks you the exact measurements. I didn’t have cinnamon so I used gingerbread spice and drop methanol cough drops in in t as well. Very pleased fixing my grand too minus the alcohol.
I have never had a hot toddy before and decided to make one on a brisk fall afternoon after raking leaves and trimming some bushes…this hit the spot perfectly! I just LOVE it…and am so happy I had all of the ingredients in my cupboards. Thank you for the recipe!
That’s great, Carolyn!
My fiance is making me this as we speak! I’ve been beaten down with a cold (like the 3rd one in 2 months) so maybe this will do the trick. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Michelle! I hope you are feeling better.
Very delicious..! I used Southern Comfort..perfect..!!!
Yummy!! Thanks for recipe! Have a cold and it’s doing the trick for me! Accomplished!!
I’ve never been able to make the right hot toddy and this is it! Soooo tasty, and perfect for a cold thanks so much, delish!!!
Sick af. Wonderful ♡♡needed this
I feel a cold brewing so in memory of my grandmother I decided on a hot toddy. No whiskey but have Sake for a Japanese recipe we tried. It worked well!!
Thanks for the base recipe and measurements!
I just tried this tonight and it is so good!! The flavor is perfect. Thank you!
Thank you for your review, Ash!
I like to warm up the honey in the microwave & skip the hot water. After that, With or without a cold, you’re ready for bed!
Just made this to handle a cough. My Grandmother made them to take like cough syrup. It seems to be working plus it taste good. Thanks for the recipe!
Yumm! My dad used to make these to bring to my cousins football games in the late autumn in the 60’s. Perfect for a cold new york evening! Just made them just like you said!
I have been fighting a cold or flu for over a week now! I’m tired of taking cough syrup so I thought I’d try a hot toddy. I made your recipe and it’s very good. I did not have lemon juice so I used lime juice. I will make again! I used Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, I bought a very little bottle of it!!! Thank you for the recipe.
I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well! I’m glad this helped you on the mend.
Oh my toddy! 2 nights in a row.. the entire house slept well! I added a little OJ and cinnamon! Hmmm hmmm good!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent! I use Knob Creek whisky, fresh lemon and organic honey so great for cold flu season.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Ben! I appreciate your review.
Simple, easy, and delicious. Just sweet and sour, water and whiskey for me..will cure what ails ya!
It helped me get over a mild cold flu and feel better plus tastes great. I didn’t have ginger but good whiskey and organic honey with lemon worked well.
So simple so easy so delicious for the colds and coughs and if you have any symptoms that are in the pandemic realm, this one is for you.
Thank you I was told about these when I was young and they were delicious then and they are delicious now.
Do I really need the lemon? How much ground ginger?
Hi Laurie, I recommend this as is. This recipe doesn’t call for ginger so I’m not sure without trying it myself.
I always way add a clove or 2
My 1st time making this tonight. My coworker told me about it. It definitely opened me up because I’ve been congested. Thank you for the recipe.
That’s great, Jocelyn! I appreciate your review.
Can I use the lemon juice you buy in a bottle?
Sure, but I prefer fresh lemon. Let me know what you think!
I have a terrible cough. My neighbor dropped off some whiskey at the door and wrote that a hot toddy might help my cough. Looked up your recipe. My (your) hot toddy certainly was delicious, and allowed me to get some much needed rest. Thanks!!
I’m at home this week suffering with a throat infection that has led to laryngitis. I can’t speak above a whisper and decided to try a hot toddy. This was the first recipe I found and it’s so yummy!!! I’ll definitely make this again and not just when I’m sick.
Beautifully easy! So simple I could make it even with a horribly stuffed head and congestion. I used Pendleton whiskey. I didn’t have honey but did have Lyle’s Golden Syrup
I’ve always made hot toddies exactly this way! Perfect!
Tried this recipe and loved it! Perfect amount of sweet and tart.
Thank you for your review, Erica!
I made this last night as I have a bad cold. What I liked the most is that it was not only tasty but super easy to make. Thanks so much for posting!
I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well, but I’m glad this helped! I appreciate your review, Suzana.
Feeling under the weather this week and your recipe came right on time. I made it with bourbon and Meyer lemon. Great taste and mood boost. Thanks!
You’re welcome, Fran!