For those cold cold winter days, when a hot chocolate just doesn’t do it for you, push the chocolate aside, and bring out the toddy.
History of Toddy
Traditionally the Toddy was a fermented drink made out of the sap of a toddy palm. It was first brewed in India way back in the 1600s.
When the English colonized India, they were introduced to the Toddy. They were first struck by the taste and then by how quickly it warmed the body. It was a drink they could take back home to England. England is quite rainy and a place where the cold never goes away. A drink like the Hot Toddy could prove extremely useful.
Unfortunately it wouldn’t be easy to source palm trees in England, so they had to make do with creating a variation of the drink and flavour by mixing scotch with hot water.
Over the ages, the cocktail recipe has evolved with people using brandy and bourbon to make their toddys, and throwing in honey, lemon, and some spices like cinnamon to create something truly yummy.
But nowadays, you can make toddy with anything and EVERYTHING – using whatever juice, spirit or spice that strikes your fancy.
I’m all about testing the boundaries of ‘conventional’, so I’ve created a very modern take on the very traditional Hot Toddy.
Hot Apple Toddy
I start by choosing gin, instead of an aged spirit, and hot apple juice, instead of hot water. Again, rather than using classic apple juice, I infuse spices and citrus to create a more layered and complex experience. When you boil these together, you get a delightful tea.
Choosing my gin is important too. I’ve chosen Iron Buddha Gin, which is light and mellow, and plays well with the spices of our tea. The reason I don’t use a barrel aged whiskey is because it would be overpowering and mask the work I’ve done with the apple juice.
My intention isn’t to hide any flavours, rather, it’s to use complementary flavours that bring the cocktail together. Apple juice is bright, while spices are playful. Together, they’re a perfect match.