As you watch the snow pile up outside your house, you remember the good times you had as a child and wish you could return. Of course, then you remember you couldn’t drink hot toddies back then, and you vanquish the thought. In short, hot toddies are like hot chocolate on a cold winter day, but for adults.
While this hot cocktail is full of spiced notes and citrus tones, the value of your brew always goes back to the whiskey you use. If you’re lost on which brand to go for, you’ve come to the right place. These are the best of the best and will never disappoint when whipping up a luscious hot toddy. Without further ado, here are the eight whiskeys best suited for a hot toddy!
1. Wild Turkey 101
Wild Turkey 101 is spicy and packs a punch. It has a wonderful bourbon flavor but is hard to drink on its own if you can’t handle its harshness. This is why this whiskey bourbon is perfect for a hot toddy.
The honey helps smooth things over, and the citrus notes compliment the high-quality Wild Turkey brew. If you like something more on the mellow side, you’ll probably want to ease up on the spices you add, though, if you like the seasoning, then your tingling tongue will undoubtedly thank you.
And like most other bourbons, you get that oaky, smokey booze flavor which adds to the complexity of your hot toddy and makes the experience all that much better.
2. Bruichladdich the Classic Laddie
Bruichladdich is another harsh one, but a delicious scotch whiskey nonetheless. The Classic Laddie delivers in their signature blend, which fuses the syrupy flavors of whiskey with butterscotch, caramel, and wintry spices. It’s a tame sweet and has a fruity aftertaste, which, you guessed it, makes for a splendid hot toddy.
It’s got that signature smoky taste you’d expect from scotch whiskeys and is a great sipping drink at its base, but it is elevated to the next level when you mix it into a hot cocktail on a cold day.
Honestly, you can’t get much better than this classic name.
3. Monkey Shoulder
Monkey Shoulder is malt whiskey made purely for mixing. And when a distiller specializes in a drink that shouldn’t be drunk by itself, you know that’s a telltale sign it’ll create something extraordinary when you use it for its intended use.
Yep, when you use Monkey Shoulder whiskey in cocktails, the result is always incredible. This versatile malt liquor provides aromatic scents and flavors of spiced oak, tangy oranges, caramelized smoke, and soothing vanilla. It’s sweet but not sickly and goes down smoothly overall.
It’s so sweet and well-balanced we could almost drink it on its own, but as the makers state, it shines best when you put it into your cocktails. The hot toddy, one of the most famous whiskey cocktails, is no exception here and is a flavor you’ll never forget!
4. Four-Roses Bourbon
Four-Roses Bourbon may lack a distinct sophistication when it comes to most whiskey bourbons on the market, but there is one thing it does much better than its peers. Like Monkey Shoulder whiskey, Four-Roses is best suited as a smooth n’ smoky cocktail mixer.
Don’t get us wrong, it’s not a terrible sipping bourbon for the rocks, but we can confidently say that it works best when adding its sweet, charred oak flavor profile to lovely spiced toddy. It’s also a great budget option, which is ideal when it comes to making cocktails.
In short, you won’t get a better mixing flavor with a well-rounded sweetness at this price point than Four-Roses Bourbon.
5. The Famous Grouse
Providing some of the finest Scotch whiskey Scotland has to offer, The Famous Grouse is a versatile blend of natural flavors you’ll fall in love with after the first sip. Yes, it has your smoky oaks and your scents of citrus, but there are a few other notes you’ll want to keep your tongue out for.
First of all, it has a beautiful cinnamon aftertaste, which compliments the spiced aroma of any hot toddy and will make your house smell like a dream on a cold fall or winter day. This boozy liquid is almost creamy in texture and also has a satisfying caramel flavor that’s expertly paired with notes of ginger, vanilla, and honey.
Whenever we add this brew to some hot water, spices, and citrus, we can confidently say that we’re reminded of the soothing autumn season.
6. Maker’s Mark Bourbon-Whiskey
Maker’s Mark Whiskey is a straightforward bourbon whiskey and a well-rounded option for any cocktail. It has a full-bodied whiskey flavor and isn’t overshadowed by tons of overly complex notes and tones. All in all, the brew has a simple take on booze, and that’s what we like about it. Hot toddies are certainly about simple flavors, and we can’t think of another name more suited for the task than Maker’s Mark Whiskey.
Yep, this brand is just straight bourbon whiskey, plain n’ proper. It’s got your smoke, your oak, your tinge of sweetness, and an incredible vanilla finish. What more could you want?
7. Bulleit Rye Whiskey
Nothing speaks more volumes of rustic southern tastes than Bulleit Rye Whiskey. It comes from a brand that isn’t as old as some of its competitors, but that doesn’t make it any worse in its flavor.
It’s whiskey through and through and has some rustic smoky notes to compliment the smell of tobacco, vanilla, and honey. It goes down smoothly and isn’t quite as complex as the scent would have you believe, but this works in its favor when you use it for hot toddies.
After all, when making spiced cocktails, you want high-quality alcohol with a full flavor, but you also don’t want to ruin a brew that’s intended to be drunk on its own. If you add alcohol that has tons of hidden notes to the mix, the result will be something that’s all over the place and a bit confusing.
If you want rustic southern comfort, then Bulleit Rye Whiskey is our top choice by far.
8. GlenDronach 12
We want to end our list with something special, so we present GlenDronach 12, a marvelously warm whiskey rich with fruity and spicy notes. It’s a 12-year-old malt liquor sure to bring the heat in any hot toddy and has a pretty good price tag for its quality.
Going into more detail, this top-tier whiskey has hints of fig and raisins reminiscent of fall fruits and leaves your tongue with a satisfying peppery finish. It’s toasty and full-bodied but is tamed by notes of winter berries and aromatic vanilla. It goes down smoothly and is a well-balanced spirit with tons of personality.
GlenDronach 12 has depth in their booze and a long history to boot, and they will, without fail, always make the best hot toddies of your life. Next time you want to indulge yourself when that winter breeze rolls in, you know which name to choose!
Final Thoughts
Are you ready to make yourself a delicious hot toddy? Well, it’s time to dump those cheap, low-quality bottles down the drain and pick yourself up on some of the recommendations we’ve mentioned on this list.
After all, with a drink as indulgent and comforting as a spiced hot toddy, you’ll want to make sure you only use the best of the best.
Happy mixing!
