Toddy

The Toddy is presumably an American drink that predates the cocktail by several decades, with the earliest known references being in 1750 (July 1750 edition of The Boston post-boy - need to find reference). A Toddy is almost always a hot drink, if made cold, it would be hard to distinguish it from a Sling (English), and if it is made with a lemon twist, it would be difficult to differentiate it from a Skin (Irish).

Traditional recipes consist of a spirit, mixed with hot water and a sweetener of some sort. Sometimes it is garnished with a lemon twist or even a lemon wedge, and a sprinkling of nutmeg or cinnamon. The fact that it is often referred to as a "Hot Toddy" could be an indication which supports the notion that it could be served either hot or cold.

Base Recipe

• 2 ounces Spirit (although over time Whiskey has become standard)
• 3/4 ounce Sweetener (Honey, Simple Syrup, or sugar)
• 2 ounces water (normally boiling hot)

Optional: garnish with a lemon twist, or thin wheel of lemon.

Jerry Thomas

If you try to get a clear definition of the Toddy by using the Jerry Thomas 1862 Bartenders Guide, you will find it more than a little confusing. He lumps the Toddy and Sling together, appearing to indicate that both can be hot or cold, with the only difference being a Sling is server with a grating of nutmeg.

In this section he lists recipes for:

• Apple Toddy: Sugar, cider brandy, 1/2 baked apple, boiling water, garnished with grated nutmeg.
• Brandy Toddy: Sugar, brandy, water, ice. And indicates that a "Hot Brandy Toddy" would omit the ice and use boiling water.
• Whiskey Toddy: Sugar, whiskey, water, ice.
• Gin Toddy: Sugar, gin, water, ice.
• Brandy Sling: "...same ingredients as brandy toddy, except you grate a little nutmeg on top."
• Hot Whiskey Sling: Whiskey, boiling water, garnished with grated nutmeg.
• Gin Sling: "...same ingredients as gin toddy, except you grate a little nutmeg on top."

From this it sounds like all that differentiates a Toddy from a Sling is the addition of grated nutmeg, except that the Apple Toddy includes nutmeg. It is also strange that the Hot Whiskey Sling doesn't include sugar.

External Links

• Hot Toddy (Wikipedia)
• The Official Cocktail of Winter: The Hot Toddy (TheDailyBeast.com)
• How Well Do You Actually Know the Toddy? (Punch.com)
• The Real Hot Toddy (Liquor.com)