7 Fun And Festive Ways To Spice Up Your Hot Toddies

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It’d be hard to get through the winter without drinking hot toddies. This classic cold-whether cocktail is typically made with water, whiskey, lemon and honey. It’ll help you brave the cold both physically and mentally. But you might get bored of drinking this same concoction at every holiday party that you attend, so we’re here to help you switch things up. Here are seven ways that you can make your hot toddy more festive and fun this holiday season.

1. Add nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.

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Adding nutmeg and cinnamon to any dish or drink is an easy way to make it more festive and flavorful. Sprinkle some ground nutmeg into your hot toddy to give it a sweet yet slightly spicy taste. Garnishing your drink with a cinnamon stick will give it a festive, highly-Instagrammable look and fill it with the sweet aroma that’s characteristic of the spice.

2. Add a slice of plum and sprinkle of sugar.

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If you want to make your toddy extra sweet and a little fruity, try adding a slice of fresh plum and a little table sugar. The tart, juicy taste of the plum will mix well with the sweetness of honey and added sugar. If you want to give your hot toddy an extra plumy flavor, consider swapping out the whiskey for plum liqueur.

3. Add a slice of orange with cloves.

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Cloves are one of the oldest and most popular spices in the world. Even a small amount of this spice can add an intense aroma and taste to any dish or drink. The taste of cloves is pungent yet sweet and combines really well with the citrusy flavor of oranges. Just stud an orange with whole cloves, cut a slice and stick it into your hot toddy. Take a sip and you’ll instantly feel toasty-warm from head to toe.

4. Add milk and chocolate.

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Make your hot toddy a chocolatey treat by adding milk and chocolate to the mix. Just heat your whiskey up in a saucepan with some milk, then add chocolate chips or hot chocolate mix. You won’t need to add water, honey or lemon to this hot toddy variation. You can even add a marshmallow as a garnish to make the drink a little more festive.

5. Swap the lemon out for a lime and add fresh mint.

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Is your go-to cocktail an ice-cold mint julep? Then you’ll also be a fan of this minty hot toddy variation that’s a more appropriate cold weather libation. Swap out the lemon from the traditional hot toddy recipe for a lime and add fresh mint or mint extract to the mix. Make sure to add a mint leaf for garnish!

6. Add chamomile tea.

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If holiday stress is getting the best of you, consider adding chamomile tea to your hot toddy. Chamomile tea is well-known for its relaxing properties. Add the whiskey, honey and lemon of traditional toddies to the mix and you’ve got yourself the perfect nightcap.

7. Make it an apple cider hot toddy.

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If you can’t choose between serving spiked apple cider or hot toddies at your next holiday gathering, consider making a hybrid of the two. You can make an apple cider hot toddy by swapping out the water from the traditional recipe for apple cider, adding fresh apple slices and a cinnamon stick to garnish.

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