Friday Happy Hour: Hot Toddy for one, Hot Cider Punch for thirty

by Bob Sassone, Posted Jan 26th 2007 @ 6:02PM

I'm not sure how cold it is where you are, but here tonight it's supposed to be around 9 degrees (and with the wind, etc, etc it's even colder). So we need something to keep us warm. You could try tea, you could try soup, maybe sitting in front of a fireplace. You could even try cutting open the carcass of a large dead animal and crawling inside, like in one of the Star Wars movies.

Or, you could make a hot alcoholic drink. If you're alone, you can make a Hot Toddy. If you're having a party with thirty of more people, you could make a Hot Cider Punch. Either way, you'll warm up quick. To paraphrase the Campbell's commercial: "Warm up to alcohol, booze is good food."

Hot Toddy (for one)

50ml Scotch whiskey
Fresh lemon juice
lemon
1 tbsp honey
ground cinnamon
5 cloves
pinch of salt

Pour whiskey and honey into heat-proof rocks glass. Add half a glass of boiled water and stir. Spear five cloves into the skin of a lemon slice and place in glass. Add dash of cinnamon and large dash of lemon juice. Stir and garnish with a lemon stick.

Hot Cider Punch (for thirty)

2 liters cider
1 sliced orange
1 sliced lemon
1 cup brown sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
12 whole cloves
1 tsp white pepper
pinch of salt

Mix ingredients in a large bowl or pot and stir. Simmer for 20 to 30 mins.

By "cider" do they mean simply apple cider?

Here are some other classic drinks for cold winter nights.

Filed Under: Happy Hour, Ingredients, Drink Recipes
Tags: cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cocktails, cold nights, comfort food, honey, orange, rocks glass, spirits, whiskey, whisky, whole cloves, winter drinks, winter party, WinterDrinks

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-26-2007 @9:04PM infojunkie said... re: cider

I assume they mean regular, not hard (alcoholic) cider, because simmering that long would probably evaporate the alcohol. Apple is most common, but if you found pear (or peach?), that would be delicious, too.

To the cider punch, I would add rum (after the simmering) and melt a bit of butter on top for "hot buttered rum." That really warms you up!
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1-27-2007 @8:00AM Sindy said... The last time I made a Hot cider punch I used Morgans Spiced Rum. It gave it a wonderful flavor!
http://to2sassy.blogspot.com/
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1-27-2007 @1:42PM MJ said... God i neede this last night.yet another cold in less than a month! I could think of a single recipe. Colds will do that to you! Thought I had some peach brandy...it was snapps and deadly sweet. Will try this tonight ! Thanks!!
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