Best Whiskey For Hot Toddy

Best Whiskey For Hot Toddy

There are many great drinks that call for whiskey, but it’s hard to beat a good hot toddy. A solid choice for when the cold winter draws in, a hot toddy is a warming beverage that looks amazing and tastes even better.

This cocktail was first invented in Scotland during the 18th century. At first, it was seen as a soothing drink designed to treat the common cold. With ingredients like lemon, honey, and hot tea, this isn’t really a surprise.

However, nowadays, it is seen as an elegant cocktail that can help us unwind at the end of the day. A hot toddy isn’t the hardest cocktail to make, but you do need the right whiskey.

Luckily for you, we’re here to help!

In this article, you’ll find a list of the best whiskey’s we can use to make a hot toddy. We’ll show you what each whiskey has to offer and how to choose.

Let’s begin!

1. Jameson Irish Whiskey

 

We’ll kickstart our list with a solid whiskey that won’t let you down. When it comes to whiskey, Jameson knows exactly what it’s doing. Founded in 1780, this whiskey brand has been right at the top of the market for hundreds of years.

The brand is famous for producing crisp, fresh, and high-quality whiskey’s. With so much experience in this industry, it isn’t a surprise to see that Jameson has the perfect whiskey for a hot toddy.

What makes Jameson’s Irish Whiskey suitable for a hot toddy is its flavor profile and smoothness. This whiskey has a divine smoothness about it and a delightfully nutty and vanilla flavor.

These two flavors are well known for going great in a hot toddy so it only makes sense. This whiskey is so popular as a hot toddy whiskey that there’s even a Jameson hot toddy out there.

When we reviewed this whiskey, we were pleased to learn that it was triple distilled and aged in oak casks for four years.

Pros

  • Strong reputation – Jameson is known for producing high-quality whiskey.
  • Great flavor – Most importantly, this whiskey tastes great.
  • Affordable – Jameson whiskey isn’t that expensive.

Cons

  • Expensive bottles – Interestingly, some retailers charge a lot more for Jameson whiskey than others.

Also available at

Midletondistillerycollection.com

2. Redbreast

 

Redbreast whiskey is another brand that sits towards the top end of the market. Whilst this whiskey is primarily a sipping whiskey, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with adding a tipple of it to your hot toddy.

In fact, as far as we’re concerned, this is one of the best premium whiskies we can use to make a hot toddy. It is divine!

When we tried Redbreast whiskey in our hot toddy, we found that it complemented the cocktail perfectly. It is super smooth, triple-distilled, and beautifully flavored. Your taste buds are immediately hit with a burst of creamy and spicy flavors, before a subtle undertone of wood comes through afterwards.

Interestingly, this whiskey is aged in a sherry cask. This is a great neat touch because it gives the whiskey a Christmas pudding-like flavor too. We love how this additional flavor combines with the creaminess and smoothness of the whiskey.

The only downside we found with this whiskey is its price. It is definitely a premium whiskey, so you can expect to spend more money.

Pros

  • Immense flavor – This whiskey has an incredibly diverse flavor.
  • Smooth – Redbreast goes down a treat.
  • Aged perfectly – Strong flavors cut through the whiskey’s ingredients perfectly.

Cons

  • Pricey – This whiskey is expensive.

Also available at

Drizly.com

3. Wild Turkey 101

 

If you’re looking for a whiskey that’s more affordable, but one that still packs a punch, look no further than Wild Turkey 101.

Wild Turkey 101 is a bourbon whiskey that can be a lot to handle on its own due to its high alcohol content. However, watered down a bit in a hot toddy and you’re on to a winner. Adding this whiskey to your hot toddy ensures you’re treated to that classic whiskey flavor without the added expense.

Betterstill, this Wild Turkey bourbon sticks with tradition, offering the brands classic caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla flavors. When we tried this whiskey in our hot toddy, we loved how these creamy, sweet and rich flavors shone through.

This sweetness also makes the whiskey much nicer to drink. Don’t get us wrong, this bourbon does pack a punch, but the sweetness definitely makes things more enjoyable.

Having said that, we would say that the only downside to this whiskey is that it is quite strong. This might put some people off, but we do recommend giving it a try, as the other flavors work perfectly.

Pros

  • Sweet tasting – Wild Turkey 101 has a fantastic sweetness about it.
  • Perfect hot toddy flavors – Caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch go perfectly in a hot toddy.
  • Packs a punch – This whiskey will put hairs on your chest.

Cons

  • Too strong – Some people will find this whiskey too strong.

Also available at

Drizly.com

4. Monkey Shoulder Malt Whiskey

 

The next whiskey on our list that goes nicely in a hot toddy is Monkey Shoulder malt whiskey. Those of you that consider yourself whiskey connoisseurs will know a fair bit about Monkey Shoulder.

For those that don’t, Monkey Shoulder is a popular whiskey brand famous for producing smooth, high-quality whiskey’s that have always been designed for mixing. The malt whiskey Monkey Shoulder makes is arguably the best hot toddy option we can go for.

This whiskey has a mellow vanilla flavor with gorgeous hints of spice. If we had to sum the flavors up, we would go with sweet, zesty, spiced, creamy, and slightly woody. We experience these flavors because of the honey, orange zest, spiced, oak, and vanilla.

You’ll love the fruity and malty character this whiskey comes with and appreciate how it stands out in any cocktail. It offers a perfectly balanced flavor profile that goes nicely in a hot toddy.

Overall, this is a smooth, creamy, sweet, and well-flavored whiskey that has been designed to be mixed. This makes it perfect for your hot toddy.

Pros

  • Reasonably priced – Monkey Shoulder whiskey is more affordable than other whiskey’s.
  • Well-balanced – The flavors in this whiskey complement each other brilliantly.
  • Designed to be mixed – This whiskey was made to be mixed.

Cons

  • We struggle to find anything wrong with this whiskey.

Also available at

Drizly.com

5. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey

 

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee honey whiskey is probably the best whiskey you can choose if you’re relatively new to the world of whiskey. If you’re not ready for something bolder and more powerful just yet, definitely go with this whiskey instead.

It won’t linger at the back of your throat, but it still offers a great flavor that goes nicely in a hot toddy.

Jack Daniel’s is one of the biggest whiskey brands in the world. The company has a strong reputation for producing incredibly versatile, flavorful, and smooth whiskey’s that hit the standard every time.

The brands Tennessee honey whiskey is one of our favorites. It’s smooth, slightly sweet, and goes down easily. It is made by blending honey liqueur with Tennessee whiskey. This combination tastes great. We found that it also offers a more natural flavor.

Whilst this whiskey is primarily a sipping whiskey, it is also a no brainer when it comes to making a great hot toddy. Like us, you’ll probably appreciate how the sweetness of this whiskey is well-balanced with notes of spice and cinnamon.

Pros

  • Perfect for beginners – This whiskey is perfect for you if you’re new to the whiskey scene.
  • Divine flavor profile – Jack Daniel’s Tennessee honey combines sweet and spiced flavors perfectly.
  • Not too sweet – This whiskey isn’t overly sweet.

Cons

  • Not that strong – More experienced whiskey drinkers might want something that packs more of a punch.

Also available at

Drizly.com

6. Four Roses Bourbon

 

The final whiskey on this list is the Four Roses Bourbon. This whiskey makes our list for a number of reasons, but the main one has to be its price tag. If you came here looking for the best budget-friendly whiskey you can use in a hot toddy, you’ve found it.

Aside from being very well-priced, Four Roses Bourbon also has plenty to offer in terms of flavor, smoothness, and quality too.

It offers just the right amount of aggressiveness to make it perfect for mixing in a cocktail. For the sake of this article, it makes a great addition to a hot toddy. It features a heavy-corn mash which has left the whiskey with a strong, yet well-balanced sweetness.

To balance out the sweetness of this whiskey, Four Roses has also included a decent amount of rye mix. This adds a spiced flavor to the drink. We found that the addition of rye mix was very effective as it balances out the flavors beautifully and ensures the whiskey has a sweet and spiced flavor.

From what we’ve experienced with Four Roses Bourbon, we’d again say that this whiskey is probably a better option for those of you new to the whiskey scene. This is definitely a great whiskey to start with.

Pros

  • Budget-friendly – Four Roses Bourbon is the most affordable whiskey on our list.
  • Versatile – This whiskey is easy to mix.
  • Beginner-friendly – The flavors in this whiskey aren’t that strong.

Cons

  • Simple flavors – Those of you that enjoy more complex flavors might not enjoy this whiskey that much.

Also available at

Drizly.com

Buyer’s Guide

Now you know more about the types of whiskey available on the market, it’s time to start thinking about which whiskey you want to buy. This isn’t too difficult, but there are a number of key things you need to consider first before making your decision.

To make your life much easier, we’ve put together a simple buyer’s guide. In this buyer’s guide, you’ll find a selection of the most important things you need to think about when making your final decision.

If you take the points we make onboard, you should be able to pick out the perfect whiskey.

Alcohol Proof

If we’re being honest, the first thing you should probably think about is alcohol proof. Alcohol proof simply refers to the strength of the alcohol or alcohol percentage in the bottle you buy.

Whilst this may not seem like a big deal, it could be the difference between you waking up with a headache in the morning or waking up feeling refreshed.

On top of that, your cocktail will taste different depending on how high or low the alcohol percentage is. For a hot toddy, you can go with either. However, a whiskey with a high alcohol percentage, say 40%, will make the cocktail taste stronger.

If you choose a weaker whiskey, you might find that your cocktail doesn’t taste that flavorful. On the other hand, a hot toddy containing a stronger whiskey might be hard to balance.

These are all things you need to consider when picking out a whiskey.

The Type Of Whiskey

Another very important factor you need to consider is the type of whiskey. Whilst we’re quite lucky in the respect that hot toddies are a versatile cocktail that welcome almost any liquor, some types of liquor are better than others.

You could play around with things a bit here and try a range of different whiskeys to see what you prefer, however, if you want the best hot toddy possible, quickly, we recommend going with an Irish whiskey.

From our experience Irish whiskey’s work much better in a hot whiskey drink. They also have the perfect smoothness and crispness.

The Flavor Of The Whiskey

Of course, you’re also going to have to think about the flavor of the whiskey you plan on buying too. This is crucial to making the best hot toddy because you don’t want your cocktail to be too overpowering or not flavorful enough.

Generally speaking, most whiskey flavors work well in a hot toddy. Whether it be sweet, smoky, or floral, you can expect your hot toddy to taste good. However, there are some things to remember.

For example, whilst a sweet whiskey works nicely, you should remember that you’ll be mixing it with sweet ingredients like honey and lemon. On the other hand, a smoky whiskey might overpower the other flavors completely.

Ideally, you’ll choose a whiskey that has a well-balanced flavor. If you choose a sweet whiskey, make sure it has a well-balanced spiced flavor too. If you’re going with a smoky whiskey, make sure it isn’t too strong.

We’d also just like to say that vanilla, nutty, and sweet tasting whiskeys are a great choice.

Pricetag 

Whiskey’s vary massively in price. Some cost less than $20, whilst others can cost more than $2,000. With this in mind, you need to think about the price you’re willing to pay before you buy your whiskey.

How much you’re willing to spend ultimately comes down to your budget, but you should also remember what you’re going to use the whiskey for.

You don’t necessarily have to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a bottle of whiskey if you’re making a hot toddy. You could easily save money and purchase a more affordable whiskey that still tastes great.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best Whiskey For A Hot Toddy?

In all honesty, there isn’t one whiskey that makes the perfect hot toddy. Instead, there are a range of different whiskeys that offer different things.

Some of our favorite whiskey’s to use when making a hot toddy include Wild Turkey 101, Monkey Shoulder Malt Whiskey, and Jameson Irish Whiskey.

How Many Hot Toddies Can You Drink In A Day?

If you’re feeling rough and you want a hot toddy to try and make yourself feel better, you should only drink one. They might taste great and make you feel better, but they still contain a high percentage of alcohol.

Limiting yourself to one is a sensible thing to do.

What Are Hot Toddies Made Of?

If you want to make a classic hot toddy, you’ll need honey, whiskey, hot water, and lemon. A cinnamon stick can be added if you want to add an extra touch of warmth and spice.

Final Thoughts

That concludes this article looking at the best whisky for a hot toddy. As you can see from the options we listed, there is a wide range of excellent whiskey’s we can use to elevate our hot toddies to the next level.

It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, we’ve looked at a whiskey that suits your needs and requirements. We’ve looked at affordable whiskey’s, premium whiskey’s, subtly flavored whiskey’s, and whiskey’s that pack a punch.

Apart from telling you more about what each whiskey has to offer, we even provided you with a useful buyer’s guide that will help you make the right decision.

Now, we’ve reached the end of this article, we pass our work over to you. It’s now down to you to narrow this list down and decide which whiskey you want to try first. If we’re being honest, there’s nothing stopping you from trying two or three.

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2 Comments

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