I am whiskey's girl, but we're not exclusive... yet. I keep an icy gin on hand, for hot summer nights and fancy dressed nights on the town. Red wine comes over for girls night (every night) and we knit and watch movies in our yoga pants. Then there's the list of beers (aka guy friends) I play darts with, sit at the bar with, cram into the canoe, watch sports with. But oh whiskey! He is the dreamboat with the handlebar mustache you can't put down. It might be twenty below, but that inch of amber fluid will keep you warm well into the evening. There's Rye, who, let's face , will probably stand you up for band practice, but always makes a damn good cocktail if he shows up. There's Scotch, the salt and peppered bachelor, who has managed to distill smoky campfire memories into each drop and proclaims his groomsman will all wear kilts should he decide to settle down. He won't, so don't get too excited about the kilts. Then there's my man, Bourbon. He makes the bed. He smells like Uncle Karl's vanilla infused pipe tobacco and wears the same three plaid shirts in rotation (you don't care because it what's underneath that you focus on). You'll feel sexy just by holding the glass.
He makes the ultimate Hot Toddy... you could almost call it love.
Hot Toddy
makes four-six servings
I make the main liquid and then store to re-heat as desired adding honey, fresh lemon juice and whiskey to each glass.
8 cups water
3 lemons
3 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean, split
Fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped. (about 1T)
Instructions
Zest 1 lemon. Cut 1/2 of zested lemon into thin slices, removing seeds.
Place water, chopped ginger, cinnamon sticks, lemon zest, lemon slices and vanilla bean in a pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for twenty minutes. Turn off heat, cover and let steep for desired length. (I waited about an hour or so)
Strain liquid into a jar, if saving, or into cups if serving.
To each cup add: a generous amount of yummy honey, the perfect amount of bourbon and juice of 1/2 lemon.