If you are in need of a warming, relaxing, cozy drink to heat you up in the winter, as I am, and if you are obsessed with anything ginger, as I am, then this drink is for you.
In the beginning of January Paul and I took a road trip to central Wisconsin to visit his brother. Of course we picked one of the coldest weekends to travel further north than we already live.
The wind chills were negative 13 in Iowa! It was even worse up in Wisconsin, or at least it seemed that way to me. Our original plan was to spend Saturday skiing down some Midwestern “slopes”. Paul and I didn’t even bring our skis because it was so cold. Think, negative 13 plus add more wind chill as you speed down the hill. No amount of mittens and layers of long underwear was going to keep me warm that day. No thank you!
Instead we spent our day walking around downtown, ducking in and out of shops, and visiting art museums. We weren’t even outside for more than 5 minutes at a time, but if the wind would pick up just a little bit, it would send chills down my entire spine. The only part of my body that wasn’t covered in layers was my face, and it hurt, it literally hurt.
So, when we went to grab some dinner at a really awesome local brewery, I knew I needed something to warm me up from the inside out.
Ice cold beer from a local brewery is definitely not what would warm me up.
I ordered a warm spirit, assuming that it would come in a little dinky after-dinner drink mug. As long as it was warm I didn’t care.
It arrived in a large full-sized mug. It was gingery, a little sweet, with the perfect amount of spice and a hint of warm whiskey. It was just what I needed. It warmed me right up.
Imagine if we would have gone skiing that day. I would have needed about 5 drinks to warm me up!
When I returned from our weekend trip I was determined to make my own version of this alluring, warming drink.
What I came up with is the ultimate Ginger Hot Toddy.
Best part is it only has 4 ingredients and it comes together with just a spoon to stir and a microwave to heat.
It is even Paul-approved, which is a surprising bonus because Paul hates anything that has a strong ginger flavor.
Trust me; if you ever need a drink to warm you up on a wintery night, this is the one.
It is a little sweet with a lot of spicy ginger, and with the warming flavors of honey and a good Irish whiskey. I know what my drink of choice will be this weekend!
This ginger hot toddy will warm you from the inside out. It gets its ginger flavor from ginger beer. All you need is a microwave to warm it up and a spoon to mix.
Ingredients
UnitsScale
1ounce good quality whiskey (I used Jameson Irish Whiskey)
1 tablespoon honey
1 bottle (12 ounces) ginger beer * (see notes for suggestions on ginger beer)
1 wedge of lemon, for garnish and for squeezing
Instructions
In a mug, or a microwave-safe glass add the whiskey and honey. Gently heat in the microwave, just to warm it slightly. Use a spoon to mix the honey into the whiskey, until dissolved.
Pour in the bottle of ginger beer, stir to combine. Gently heat in the microwave until warm. You don’t want it to be hot like tea or coffee, because the carbonation and the spiciness of the ginger beer irritate the back of the throat if served too hot.
Serve immediately with a lemon wedge on the rim. I like the lemon squeezed into the hot toddy.
Notes
*Do not use ginger ale for this recipe. I recently learned that the difference between ginger ale and ginger beer is huge. Ginger ale is more of a traditional pop that has a little artificial ginger flavoring; it has much more of a syrupy consistency and is much more sugary. Ginger beer, on the other hand, is made from fresh ginger juice and is usually sweetened with natural cane sugar. The ginger flavor is very intense and is usually quite a bit spicy, like true ginger should be. Ginger beer is usually non-alcoholic, although there are a few brands that do contain alcohol. I found my ginger beer in the organic section of my local grocery store. If you can’t find it in a store I suggest looking online.
For more information on selecting brands of ginger beer, read this post by Love and Olive Oil
Furthermore, there's evidence that suggests drinking two hot toddies per day can help relieve cold symptoms such as sore throats and congestion when paired with restful sleep.
I would like to drink it warm, not cold. Yes, it is okay to heat up ginger beer. Just make sure you are microwaving it in a microwave safe container, and not a metal can or similar.
These days, when it comes to making hot toddies, it's a flexible rubric. Maker's Mark and Jameson are popular choices, but they're far from your only option. Try it with rye, Bourbon, rum, or the brown spirit of your choosing. The best whiskey to use in a hot toddy is the one you have on hand.
However, it can also cause alcohol-related problems, dehydration, diarrhea, food poisoning, and blood sugar spikes if you drink too much or too often or if it is not stored or made properly.
Avoid using ginger together with other herbal/health supplements that can lower blood sugar, such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, damiana, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others.
Any brand of Irish whiskey works in the whiskey ginger. Bushmills is a popular option and it's often called a Jameson and ginger when Jameson Irish whiskey is poured. Pour more or less ginger ale to fit your taste and the size of the glass.
For the best flavor and most fizz, we suggest drinking the ginger beer within four weeks. Because we only use fresh ingredients without chemicals or preservatives, it must be refrigerated. A natural separation will occur — gently rotate the bottle a few times and enjoy!
can be enjoyed either cold or at room temperature, but like all sodas, it tastes best chilled. For large plastic bottles of ginger beer, you may wish to refrigerate them after opening to keep them fresh. Unless you plan on drinking it within a few days, you might want to refrigerate them after opening.
Ginger beer is widely used as a standalone refreshing drink, served chilled or over ice. Its robust ginger taste gives it a satisfying kick, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy a more intense flavor experience.
“If a person has bloating, gas or indigestion, the carbonation and sugar may make it worse. Even diet ginger ale can be harmful because our bodies may not digest artificial sugars as well.”
Thus, varieties of ginger ale that contain more ginger may be better for your health. However, ginger ale may cause increased gassiness due to its carbonation. The added sugar it may contain can lead to an increased risk of chronic diseases if consumed in large amounts.
Best consumed in small doses and infrequently, Hot Toddies can only be served as as medicine to those 21 and over, should not replace a medical professional's advice, and are best followed by a tall glass of water, some herbal tea, and plenty of rest and TLC.
The ingredients in a hot toddy have been shown to have cough-suppressing properties. Alcohol isn't needed in the recipe to experience these benefits. Consuming warm water, lemon, and honey is the key to symptom relief. Additional items can be added to taste, such as tea, clove, and ginger.
But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study in 2007 that nailed down the numbers with the magic of the scientific method.
Honey has been praised for its throat-soothing properties and this home remedy contains some compounds that are thought to boost your immune system, such as polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that may have anti-inflammatory properties.
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The wind chills were negative 13 in Iowa! It was even worse up in Wisconsin, or at least it seemed that way to me. Our original plan was to spend Saturday skiing down some Midwestern “slopes”. Paul and I didn’t even bring our skis because it was so cold. Think, negative 13 plus add more wind chill as you speed down the hill. No amount of mittens and layers of long underwear was going to keep me warm that day. No thank you!
