66
Theever-adaptable
hottoddymakes
a reliablewinter-
weathercompanion
ByKaraNewman
Illustration
byFranco
Zacharzewski
Cold
Comfort
Thetoddyis bartendingatitsmost
basic:whiskey,sugar,andlemon—
that’sit—mixedandthentopped
withscaldingwater.“It’sa pretty
straightforward template,” says
JillianVose,beveragedirectorat
NewYork’sDeadRabbitGrocery
& Grog,a World’sBestBarwinner
rightlyfamousforitsboozycold-
weathermenu.Howyouimprove
on the formula, down to the
optionalcinnamonstickgarnish,is
largelyuptoyou.“It’snoteveryday
youhavea hotdrink,”Vosesays.
“Itsoothesthethroat,warmsthe
soul.”Thinkofit ascocktailmed-
icine.Herearethreevariationsfor
youandyourclosestcrew.
A NEWSTANDARD
TheDeadRabbit
featuresIrishwhiskeyin
itsfancifuladaptation
ofa recipefirst
publishedin 1862 in
JerryThomas’sThe
Bartender’sGuide:
HowtoMixDrinks,
orTheBonVivant’s
Companion. Thelemon
“sherbet”makesenough
forseveraldrinks.
- 2 ozPowersSignature
IrishWhiskey - ½ozhoneysyrup
(2partshoney
dissolvedin1 part
hotwater) - ½ozlemonsherbet
- 1 dashAngostura
bitters- Boiling water
- Freshly grated
nutmeg, for garnish
Combine whiskey,
honey syrup, and
sherbet in a heatproof
glass or mug. Stir
in 3 oz hot water,
or to taste. Garnish
with nutmeg.
Lemon Sherbet
In a jam jar or other
lidded container,
combine the peels of
4 lemons with ½ cup
sugar. Let sit for a
few hours, until sugar
is damp. Add ½ cup
fresh lemon juice and
shake until sugar
dissolves. Discard peels.
A LITTLE
BITTERSWEET
Amaro and orange
bitters supply plenty
of astringency without
added citrus for an
aged rum drink called
Winter in the Caribbean.
Bar manager Lindsay
Matteson of Seattle’s
the Walrus and the
Carpenter says using
cognac, Scotch, or aged
genever also works well.
- 1½ozagedrum
- ½ozAvernaor
anothermedium
bittered amaro - 1 tsphoney
- 2 dashesorange
bitters - Hot water
Stir all ingredients in
a toddy glass. Garnish
with a cinnamon stick
and a lemon twist.
JUST
ADDTEA
KentaGoto
ofNew
York’sBar
Gotooffers
a further
variationofthis
YuzuHotToddy
bytradingbrandy
forshochuanda
smallmeasureofgin.
- 1½ ozLaird’s
AppleBrandy - 2 ozbrewedlemon-
gingertea - ⅔ozhoneysyrup
(recipeatleft) - ½ ozlemonjuice
- 1 tspyuzu
marmalade (optional)
Stir brandy, tea, honey
syrup, and lemon
juice in a saucepan
over medium heat,
just until hot. Pour
into a teacup. Serve
yuzu marmalade on
the side for additional
DIY sweetness.
THREETODDYTIPS
- Pre-warmglasseswith
boilingwatertokeepa
toddyhotterlonger. - Stirtoddieswell.
“That’simportant,”
Vosesays,“soyou
don’tgeta mouthfulof
sugarattheend.” - Ginger,cinnamon,
cloves,andother
spicesmayseemmore
pronouncedorspicy
whenheatis applied.