Modern Hot Toddy

Modern Hot Toddy
Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
15 minutes
Rating
4(260)
Notes
Read community notes

Think of this drink as the darker, richer cousin to the classic hot toddy. Choose an amaro with citrus notes that is medium in body and bitterness, and use a six-ounce serving vessel. (The smaller size will help the drink retain heat.) Warming the serving vessel and the ingredients themselves helps to keep the hot toddy, well, hot, but if you’re keen on skipping one of the steps to a superiorly hot toddy, make it warming the ingredients — and drink with the urgency that choice demands.

Featured in: Seasons Change. Classic Cocktails Do, Too.

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink
  • 1teaspoon (or 1 individual bag) strong black loose-leaf tea, such as English breakfast
  • 1 to 2teaspoons brown sugar
  • ¾ounce medium-bodied rum, preferably gold
  • ¾ounce amaro, such as Ramazzotti or Averna
  • ½ounce fresh lemon juice
  • Lemon slice, to finish
Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Fill a 6-ounce heatproof mug or glass with boiling water and set aside, 1 minute.

  2. Step 2

    Pour out the water, then add a tea bag or strainer and sugar to the warmed glass. Top with 4 ounces boiling water.

  3. Step 3

    As the tea steeps, set another small heatproof mug or glass in a small saucepan or baking dish. Pour more boiling water around it, so the water comes halfway up the sides. Add the rum and amaro to the mug, and allow to sit and warm through.

  4. Step 4

    Once the tea has steeped for 3 to 5 minutes, remove the tea bag or strainer, add the now-warmed rum and amaro mixture, stirring to ensure the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the lemon juice and finish with a lemon slice. Serve immediately.

Ratings

4 out of 5
260 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

Awfully fussy this prewarming ritual. Why not make tea, dump in the rest and reheat in the microwave? Anyway good drinking

This recipe sounds much too complex. An easier way I elevate my hot toddy is to add 1 oz of amaro or other spirit like cognac in addition to the 2 oz of whiskey/rum. Experiment with different alcohols and bitters to get more complex flavors. Then a small amount of sweetener (honey is what I use). And whatever citrus spices you enjoy (lemon slice studded with cloves & a star anise). Combine all ingredients with boiling hot water and enjoy!

I’ve consumed many hot toddies in my life (medicinal & for enjoyment), but I’ve never had a hot toddy made this recipe’s way. My family’s (centuries old) recipe is: 1-2 fingers whiskey (bourbon preferred), a couple of whole cloves, honey, generous squeeze of lemon (and then drop lemon in mug). Cover with boiling water & stir. The combined ingredients’ antiseptic & anesthetizing properties truly coat, soothe & relieve.

Wouldn't that burn off the alcohol and release tannins in the tea?

Ended up adding a teaspoon of maple syrup which gave a nice rich sweetness

Made this for some family and friends. It was super delicious, everyone loved it.

If you don't want the bitterness, use chai teabags ( I like Stash double spice)for the tea, rum and brandy instead of amaro.

I’ve consumed many hot toddies in my life (medicinal & for enjoyment), but I’ve never had a hot toddy made this recipe’s way. My family’s (centuries old) recipe is: 1-2 fingers whiskey (bourbon preferred), a couple of whole cloves, honey, generous squeeze of lemon (and then drop lemon in mug). Cover with boiling water & stir. The combined ingredients’ antiseptic & anesthetizing properties truly coat, soothe & relieve.

The clove! Great idea, it’s where you get the anesthetic properties!!

Ended up adding a teaspoon of maple syrup which gave a nice rich sweetness

This recipe sounds much too complex. An easier way I elevate my hot toddy is to add 1 oz of amaro or other spirit like cognac in addition to the 2 oz of whiskey/rum. Experiment with different alcohols and bitters to get more complex flavors. Then a small amount of sweetener (honey is what I use). And whatever citrus spices you enjoy (lemon slice studded with cloves & a star anise). Combine all ingredients with boiling hot water and enjoy!

"Much too complex" sounds like an overstatement when all you seem to be suggesting is not warming things. And the intro itself says you can skip that. All that's left then is making sweetened tea and adding alcohol. Why run down the original recipe just in order to tell us your approach?

I don’t like overly sweet drinks, but I prefer just over 1 tsp of brown sugar. 1 tsp makes me wish it were slightly sweeter.

I warmed the alcohol in the micro for 15 seconds before adding it to the tea mix. It’s delicious on a cold wet day like today!

Complicated much!! Just make a cup of hot black tea and wack in the rest, warmed if you wish. Stir. Enjoy.

Awfully fussy this prewarming ritual. Why not make tea, dump in the rest and reheat in the microwave? Anyway good drinking

Wouldn't that burn off the alcohol and release tannins in the tea?

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