Winter is here, and my bourbon tea hot toddy recipe is the perfect way to warm up on chilly evenings or afternoons. Strong black tea, bourbon, sweet cinnamon, bright citrus (both lemon and orange), zesty ginger, and soothing honey come together in this classic hot cocktail.
Let's be honest--aside from the bourbon, those are all ingredients you'd drink at the first sign of a scratchy throat anyway, right? I was a Girl Scout after all (well, Brownie), so I know I'll be prepared this flu season.
Whether you're hosting a holiday party, Super Bowl get-together, or just enjoying a quiet evening in front of the fire, this hot toddy tea is sure to warm you from head to toe.
Need some other drink ideas? My Homemade Vanilla Iced Coffee with Stok Cold Brew is a winner any time of year. And, this Pumpkin Spice Irish Coffee is perfect for the fall. If you're looking for cocktails, be sure to check out my Purple People Eater (a Spooky Halloween Gin Cocktail). Just omit the gummy eyeballs and it's the perfect cocktail any time of year. You'll also love my Spicy Grapefruit Ranch Water. I also developed some other awesome drinks for Yummly: a Blue Lagoon, Piña Coladas, and Cantaloupe Basil Spritzers.
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Ingredients
Before we get started, let’s gather the ingredients we need for this recipe.
- black tea bags (my favorite tea is PG Tips)
- bourbon
- water
- fresh ginger
- lemons
- oranges
- honey
- cinnamon sticks
(See recipe card for quantities.)
Instructions
Now that we’ve got our ingredients, it’s time to get started!
First, combine the water, orange peel, ginger, and cinnamon sticks in a medium saucepan and simmer.
Next, add the tea bags and remove from the heat. Let steep for 5 minutes.
Then, strain the tea through a wire mesh strainer into a large mixing bowl or measuring cup. (I recommend one with a spout.)
Finally, stir in the honey, bourbon, and lemon juice and stir until the honey dissolves. Pour into mugs, garnish, and serve.
Hint: Want to know how to easily peel ginger? Tear off a knob from the large root (if applicable) and then use the sharp edge of a spoon to scrape off the skin. The peel will come right off!
Substitutions
Need some suggestions on ingredient adjustments? I've got you covered!
- Honey - instead of honey, use brown sugar, simple syrup, agave nectar, or maple syrup. This orange simple syrup is perfect.
- Tea - use your favorite tea instead of plain black tea. English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Darjeeling, and green tea are all great options. If you want a milder flavored hot toddy, you can also use an herbal tea like chamomile tea.
- Bourbon - not a fan of bourbon? Try Irish whiskey, rye whiskey, dark rum, or spiced rum instead.
Variations
Here are some more ways to make this recipe your own:
- Apple cider hot toddy - add warm apple cider for a fall twist. Garnish with apple slices too.
- Alcohol-free - make this a mocktail by omitting the bourbon altogether.
- Super spice - make this a spicier mulled hot toddy and add a few whole cloves and star anise to the simmering water before steeping the tea.
Equipment
Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:
- liquid measuring cup
- vegetable peeler
- dry measuring cups
- medium saucepan
- wire mesh strainer
- large mixing bowl
- mugs
Storage
If you have leftovers, let the hot toddy come to room temperature and then transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
Freeze any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Tasty tip
Are you planning on serving hot toddies at your next get together? Store this cocktail in a slow cooker set on LOW heat. You can even set up a hot toddy bar and include different garnishes for guests to choose from.
Frequently asked questions
Personally, I love a strong, black tea for my hot toddy. But, you can use any tea that's your favorite. Strong brewed tea is your best bet to stand up to the other flavors in the hot toddy so I'd suggest green tea, rooibos tea, or a loose black tea like Earl Grey (the flavor of bergamot oil would pair great with the flavors in this classic hot cocktail.)
I'm not a doctor, so I cannot give medical advice, but I feel like warm beverages are great for colds because they help soothe a sore throat and steam helps to relieve congestion. In fact, hot toddies were often used as home remedies. This hot toddy has natural ingredients to fight cold symptoms like honey, ginger, and lemon juice (Vitamin C baby).
They're the same! In Ireland, a hot toddy is called a hot whiskey.
Whiskey is a term used to describe alcohol that is made from fermented mashed grains. Bourbon is a type of whiskey made with mashed grains that contain at least 51% corn.
That depends. For this recipe, I wait to add the bourbon at the end, so barely any alcohol cooks out.
Related
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Even more
These are more of my favorite recipes:
🍽Get the recipe
Spiced Bourbon Black Tea Hot Toddy
Equipment
- liquid measuring cup
- vegetable peeler
- dry measuring cups
- medium saucepan
- wire mesh strainer
- large mixing bowl
- mugs
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 2 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish if desired
- 3 (2-inch) strips orange peel
- 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
- 4 black tea bags (I like PG Tips)
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 cup bourbon
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- Lemon slices and orange slices for serving
Instructions
- Combine the water, cinnamon sticks, orange peel, and ginger in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
- Add the tea bags and let steep for 5 minutes.
- Pour the tea through a mesh strainer into a bowl or large liquid measuring cup and discard the tea bags and aromatics.
- Stir in the honey, bourbon, and lemon juice until the honey dissolves. Pour the tea into glass mugs or other heatproof mugs and garnish with lemon slices and orange slices. Add a cinnamon stick to each mug too, if desired.
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Nisha says
Loved this tea with all the flavors of sweet cinnamon, citrus, ginger, and soothing honey glad to have this recipe for the fall and will be making it more often!
AshleyFreeman says
Thanks for your note Nisha! It's perfect for Fall.
Liz says
I had friends over for coffee last week and added this to our drink options along with regular tea and coffee. Nothing but rave reviews!!!
AshleyFreeman says
I'm so glad to hear that Liz!
Nora says
Perfect for warming up on a cold winter day! So good!
AshleyFreeman says
You are so right, Nora!