Apple Brandy Hot Toddy
A mellow hot toddy built on apple brandy, with honey, fresh lemon and hot water, infused with a cinnamon stick and a slice of crisp apple.
Ingredients
- 50 ml apple brandy — Calvados or similar
- 15 ml honey
- 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- 120 ml hot water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 apple slice — for garnish
Method
- Spoon the honey into a heatproof mug and add a splash of the hot water to dissolve it.
- Pour in the apple brandy and fresh lemon juice and stir.
- Top up with the remaining hot, not boiling, water.
- Add the cinnamon stick and let it infuse for a minute or two.
- Garnish with a slice of apple and serve warm.
How to serve
- Glassware
- Heatproof mug
- Serve temperature
- Warm, around 60°C
- Garnish
- Cinnamon stick and apple slice
A hot toddy is the quiet hero of winter drinks, and building it on apple brandy gives it a deeper, orchard-fresh character. Calvados or another good apple brandy brings rounded fruit and a soft warmth that the honey and lemon frame perfectly. It is the sort of drink to cradle in both hands while the weather does its worst outside.
The method could not be simpler: dissolve the honey, add the spirit and citrus, then top with hot water and let a cinnamon stick do its gentle work.
Tips
Choose a firm, slightly tart apple such as a Braeburn for the garnish so it holds its shape in the heat. Dissolve the honey first to avoid a sticky layer at the bottom of the mug. Warm your mug with a little hot water before building the drink so it stays hot for longer.
If you would rather lead with juniper than orchard fruit, a Hot Apple Gin makes an excellent base for this same honey-and-lemon template. The botanical lift sits neatly against the spice, and you can follow the recipe almost exactly. For a side-by-side comparison, try a round of Hot Apple Gin alongside the brandy version.
Variations
Add a few cloves studded into the apple slice for extra aroma, or a thin coin of fresh ginger for a warming kick. A strip of orange peel brightens the fruit, and a small measure of apple cider in place of some of the water makes a richer, more autumnal cup.
Frequently asked questions
What is apple brandy?
Apple brandy is a spirit distilled from apples. French Calvados is the best known, but American and English versions work just as well in this toddy.
Why use hot rather than boiling water?
Boiling water scorches the honey and can make the lemon and brandy taste harsh. Water just off the boil keeps the flavours rounded and the drink pleasant to sip.
Can I make it sweeter or sharper?
Easily. Add a little more honey for sweetness or an extra squeeze of lemon to sharpen it. Taste as you build and adjust to your liking.
Related recipes
Hot Toddy
The classic warm whisky cocktail with honey, lemon and spice — soothing, simple and built for cold nights.
Hot Apple Brandy
Calvados folded into warm cloudy apple juice with honey, cinnamon and clove — a rich, orchard-scented warmer with the brandy added off the heat.
Mulled Apple Cider
Warm spiced apple cider — orchard-sweet, fragrant with cinnamon and clove, and easy to make alcoholic or alcohol-free.
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