Spiced Apple Hot Toddy

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Cocktail History

The Spiced Apple Hot Toddy is an autumn cocktail that was created by Sandy Clifton, a recipe developer and blogger at Simply Happy Foodie.

The recipe serves as a seasonal upgrade of the classic Hot Toddy, which typically combines hot water, whiskey, and a sweetener such as honey. This version replaces the water with apple cider for a fruitier base and enhances the fall vibes with an assortment of baking spices, making for a comforting, spiced drink that’s perfect for chilly weather or as a soothing remedy during cold season.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Apple Cider: This is a beverage made with fresh-pressed apple juice that’s typically unfiltered to produce a sweet, slightly tangy fruit flavor.

Cognac: This is a type of brandy made in the Cognac region of France with grapes and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in oak barrels to develop a smooth, complex flavor.

Honey: This is a sweetener produced by bees from flower nectar that’s made into a concentrated syrup with a natural sweetness and complex, floral flavor.

Cinnamon Stick: This is a spice made from dried and rolled bark of the cinnamon tree that has a warm, sweet-spicy flavor.

Star Anise: This is a spice made from the fruit of an evergreen tree, which is dried for its strong, licorice-like flavor.

Whole Cloves: This is a spice made from the flower buds from the clove tree, which are dried for their strong, slightly sweet-spicy flavor.

Ginger: The is a root of the ginger tree that has an aromatic, spicy, and slightly sweet flavor.

Aromatic Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with a blend of herbs, spices, roots, and botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop an aromatic, bittersweet flavor.

Orange: This is a citrus with orange skin and juicy, sweet flesh.

Ground Black Pepper: This is a spice made with dried and ground peppercorns that has a fine texture and sharp, pungent flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 The Glass Orchard Apple Cider
• 🔗 Raynal VSOP Rare Old French Brandy
• 🔗 Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Raw Unfiltered Honey
• 🔗 Simply Organic Cinnamon Sticks
• 🔗 Frontier Co-op Star Anise
• 🔗 Simply Organic Whole Cloves
• 🔗 Angostura Aromatic Bitters
• 🔗 Simply Organic Ground Black Pepper

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Saucepan: This is a deep cooking pot with a long handle that’s used for heating and preparing ingredients on the stovetop.

Spatula: This is a flat kitchen tool with a flexible or rigid head that’s used for scraping, folding, mixing, and spreading ingredients.

Ladle: This is a large deep-bowled spoon with a long handle that’s used for scooping and serving punches and other batch drinks.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Irish Coffee Mug: This is a heat-resistant glass mug with a sturdy handle and footed base that’s used for serving warm cocktails and coffee drinks.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 All-Clad 3-Ply Stainless Steel 3 Quart Sauce Pan
• 🔗 OXO Heavy Duty Silicone Spatula
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips Silicone Everyday Ladle
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 Libbey Cavana Tall Mug

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Amber orange color

• Aroma: Comforting baked apple and cinnamon

• Taste: Cozy blend of spiced apple cider, honey’s natural sweetness, and the warmth of brandy

• Finish: Smooth, lingering baking spices and a hint of tangy citrus

Kendall’s Take
“This toddy leans all the way into peak cozy season. Fresh apple cider, honey, baking spices, and brandy come together in a way that feels effortless and comforting from the very first sip. I’d describe the Spiced Apple Hot Toddy as gently sweet and exactly the kind of drink you want in hand once the air turns crisp—the sort of recipe that quietly becomes a fall staple you crave each year without even realizing it.”

Recipe