Make holiday season boozy and bright
Winter is coming, the spooky season has ended, and we all want something comforting and cozy to get us through the coldest and darkest months of the year. Yolo rum is here to make your upcoming holiday season boozy and bright with our very own take on a classic Hot Toddy cocktail recipe! This traditional holiday spiced favorite is the perfect companion for a night curled up by the fire after a day of skiing or playing in the snow.
Origins of the Hot Toddy Cocktail
The Hot Toddy as we know it today can be traced all the way back to the early 1600s in British occupied India. Originally a Hot Toddy was any hot drink with spices, but the popularity of Caribbean rum in later years transformed the drink into a rum lover’s favorite and a staple at British Christmas parties. The combination of hot rum, sugar, and holiday spices has such a soothing effect that early physicians even prescribed the Hot Toddy as a cure for the flu and the common cold! While the drink is unlikely to kill off any viruses, the effects of drinking a hot tea with lemon juice when sick can only be improved by adding liquor.
Toddy can be made using whatever traditionally winter spices you love; try cinnamon, clove, allspice, or even nutmeg. We’ve tried a few different combinations and have found that Yolo Gold is best enhanced with just a bit of star anise. The anise imparts a hint of licorice which pulls out more of Yolo’s complex sweetness and is made even richer with the addition of lemon and brown sugar. Because Yolo Rum is naturally sugar free, the addition of just a little sugar in our Toddy is a must for the bit of extra sweetness that pulls the drink together. Don’t worry, it’s still a pretty guilt free treat at only 2 teaspoons per mug.
Yolo Rum Hot Toddy with Brown Sugar and Clove
Ingredients:
- Yolo Rum Gold
- Hot Water
- Lemon Juice
- Brown Sugar
- Star Anise Cloves
Instructions:
- Stir for 60 seconds
- Strain into a coffee mug
- Garnish with a lemon wheel on the rim and a star anise clove floating on top
