I don’t believe it will surprise anyone when I say that winter and I are not the best of friends. We are, at best, terse acquaintances. The kind of person that, if you saw you were about to join them on an elevator alone, you would pretend that you had forgotten something (complete with a little “ah!”), and then turn around and hurry off in the opposite direction before sneakily catching the next elevator.
One of the few aspects of winter that I don’t mind are Hot Toddy’s. They’re lovely. Bright, warm, and with just enough of a whiskey hit to send you off to bed in a happy haze.
Traditional Hot Toddy’s (as far as I understand it, at least) are made with bourbon, honey, lemon, and cloves. This is my Canadian version. It’s just as good, if not better.
Yes, I did buy it for the label. Thanks for asking.
First off, I swap the bourbon for Canadian whiskey. I used a spiced one that smells wonderfully of vanilla. Then, the most obvious switch of all—maple syrup instead of honey.
I use a clementine (though you can use an orange) instead of a lemon. Clementines are similar to mandarin oranges, and have long been popular in Canada (though they’ve never caught on in the USA the same way, apparently). Lastly, cinnamon instead of cloves. Just because I like it better, I guess.
Canadian Hot Toddy
30mL Canadian spiced whiskey2 tsp dark maple syrup
¾ clementine, juiced
¼ clementine, as a wedge for garnish (optional)
1 cinnamon stickBoiling water, as needed
Stir the whiskey and maple syrup together in the bottom of a mug with the cinnamon stick. Add the juice of the ¾ clementine, and then top off with about half a cup of water (taste it to see if it’s too strong or not strong enough as you go). Garnish with the remaining wedge of clementine and leave the cinnamon stick in. Let steep for a few minutes before enjoying whilst you sit by the fire (or something).
Brr! Hot Toddy, anyone?
