The Best Holiday Cocktails: Apple Cider Hot Toddy

We just got back from standing outside for 2 hours in the freezing cold and so a hot Apple Cider Hot Toddy was a perfect way to warm up. I am not a huge fan of the original hot toddy recipe, but when apple cider is added, it becomes something so much better. The apple cider with cranberry juice and honey pairs to create a delicious flavor, and when a quality bourbon is added, you’ve got a serious heart warming concoction. 

Aside from the traditional cocktail that’s usually consumed as a holiday libation, it’s also a natural cold remedy. According to experts, alcohol in the whiskey acts as a decongestant by dilating blood vessels and making it easier for your mucous membranes to fight off infection.  The honey and warm water soothes a throat, and the steam helps open nasal passageways. After drinking the hot toddy, the alcohol helps you snooze. So, basically a hot toddy is like Nyquil.  None of us in our household have gotten a cold yet this year (knock on wood), but when I do I know what I am going to try. Hopefully we won’t have to, though. I am optimistic that the years of daycare and working in large office buildings has our immune systems set up like Fort Knox.

So, the next time you have a cold, try a hot toddy. Or even better, try this apple cider hot toddy. 

Now that I am warmed up from my Apple Cider Hot Toddy, you need to go make one. Sip slowly, enjoy it, and then pack it in for a long winter’s nap. Enjoy.

Don’t miss out on any of our other cocktails. You can find them all at The House + Hive. If you like this recipe, you might also like the Cranberry Brandy Old Fashioned. 

Recipe adapted from Boulder Locavore.