Mix This Non-Alcoholic Hot Toddy As Winter Makes Way For Spring
When the weather transitions from winter to spring, it is quite a pleasing feeling as harsh chills ebb and pleasant breezes make a welcome appearance. And if you want to cut down your alcohol intake, it is just as easy to craft a hot toddy out of non-alcoholic spirits and consume it as a thoroughly comforting mocktail.
Hot toddy is a very old drink, with a history that can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent where sometime in the 1600s it was discovered as a mix often crafted out of an alcoholic beverage blended with sugar and spices to combat winters.
Back then, the drink was referred to as the ‘taddy’ or a mixture made from fermented palm sap. Many believe that it was Scottish traders who found the drink to be quite soothing, popularised it, took it to Scotland and eventually, it became popular in Great Britain as the hot toddy we recognise today.
Over time, many variations of the hot toddy have sprung up but the basic formula which mixes alcohol, sugar, citrus and herbs in hot water has remained constant. Now, the non-alcoholic version can also be made easily at home with the addition of freshly squeezed citrus juice and simple syrup that introduce some tangy yet sweet qualities into the drink.
Moreover, you can choose from a wide range of non-alcoholic options like a substitute for bourbon or whisky sans the alcohol as well as non-alcoholic variations of mezcal, gin, brandy or rum. Other than the boozy kick, the drink retains much of its overall flavour profile and with the addition of mixers like maple syrup, cinnamon syrup, orange juice or orange bitters, you can actually craft a drink which is packed with a very layered and complex taste.
Hot toddies are generally an intense beverage but remove the alcohol from the mix and you will be left behind with a host of warm, spicy and tangy notes that are suddenly highlighted much more because of the absence of liquor. Mixed in hot water, the varied ingredients make for a really complex drink which can be enjoyed on chilly evenings when you feel a cold coming on.
And crafting this non-alcoholic beverage at home is quite an easy affair. Here’s a simple recipe for the time when you next want to prepare a hot toddy mocktail at home:
Non-Alcoholic Hot Toddy
Ingredients
15 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
1-2 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
60 ml non-alcoholic whisky/non-alcoholic rum
½ cup hot water
One cinnamon stick
2-3 whole cloves
Lemon wheel for garnish
Method
1. In a heatproof mug, add lemon juice, honey and non-alcoholic whisky. Stir to combine the ingredients.
2. Add cinnamons and cloves and stir well.
3. Pour hot water over the mixture and set aside for a few minutes until the spices steep into the drink.
4. Strain into a mug and garnish with a lemon wheel. Your soothing hot toddy is now ready to be sipped.
