There’s a moment every winter — maybe you’re finally settling in after a long day, the temperature has dropped, and all you want is something warm in your hands and something good in the glass. That’s exactly when a hot toddy earns its reputation. This version layers the buttery, floral sweetness of Tupelo Honey with smooth whiskey, bright lemon, and the gentle floral warmth of our farm-blended Good Night Tea — and the result is genuinely one of the most comforting things you can make in about five minutes flat.
Tupelo Honey is our choice here for good reason. Its buttery, almost floral sweetness dissolves beautifully into a warm drink, softening the whiskey without competing with it. If you’ve been curious about what makes Tupelo Honey special, this recipe is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to find out.
What Is a Hot Toddy?
A hot toddy is one of those drinks that’s been around long enough to have real lore attached to it. At its most traditional, it’s a combination of hot water, whiskey, honey, and fresh lemon juice — sometimes finished with a cinnamon stick or star anise. The drink has earned a loyal following because it’s warm, it’s simple, and it tastes like exactly what it is: a cozy evening in a mug.
What makes a hot toddy worth making well is the balance. The whiskey provides depth and warmth. The honey brings sweetness without sharpness. The lemon lifts everything just enough to keep it interesting. And the hot liquid — whether that’s water or, in our case, a beautiful chamomile-lavender tea — ties it all together with that unmistakable cozy feeling you can’t really get any other way.
A Brief History of the Hot Toddy
The hot toddy’s origins are genuinely mysterious, and that’s part of what makes it interesting. One popular theory traces it to 17th-century British-colonial India, where a fermented palm sap drink called “taddy” became the basis for a spirit-and-hot-water concoction. Another account places the drink in 19th-century Scotland, where bartenders reportedly mixed Scotch whisky with hot water drawn from Edinburgh’s Tod’s Well. There’s also a story involving Dr. Robert Bentley Todd, an Irish physician who prescribed a warm brandy-and-spice mixture to patients in the 1800s.
Wherever it actually came from, the hot toddy made its way to the American table in the 19th century and never left. It’s stayed popular because it works — it’s warming, flavorful, and satisfying to make and hold in your hands.
Why Tupelo Honey in a Hot Toddy?
Most hot toddy recipes will tell you to use whatever honey you have on hand. That’s fine — but the honey you choose genuinely changes the drink. Tupelo Honey is harvested during a brief annual bloom along the Apalachicola River Basin in Florida, where bees gather nectar from white tupelo gum trees growing wild along the riverbanks. The result is a rare, minimally filtered honey with an exceptionally smooth, buttery sweetness and delicate floral notes.
In a hot toddy, that buttery quality is a perfect match. It dissolves easily into warm liquid, sweetens without being sharp, and adds a floral depth that standard processed honey simply doesn’t have. If you’ve ever wondered why your hot toddy tasted a little one-dimensional, the honey is often why. Curious whether it’s worth keeping a jar on hand? We think Tupelo Honey is absolutely worth it — and this recipe is one of the best ways to taste exactly why.
What Goes Into This Recipe
You only need a handful of things, and each one earns its place in the glass:
- 1 oz Maryland-style rye whiskey — or bourbon, Irish whiskey, or Scotch. Use something you’d enjoy drinking on its own.
- 1 tablespoon Tupelo Honey — adjust to your taste
- ½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice — always fresh; bottled lemon juice will flatten the drink
- 6 oz hot chamomile tea — made with our Good Night Tea
- Optional garnish: cinnamon stick, lemon slice
A Note on the Tea
Instead of plain hot water, we use our Good Night Tea — a hand-blended chamomile, linden flower, spearmint, rose petal, and lavender bud blend that we put together in small batches in Owings Mills. The chamomile’s gentle floral sweetness plays beautifully alongside Tupelo Honey, and the result tastes layered and intentional rather than just sweet and boozy. It’s one of those small substitutions that makes a real difference.
Whiskey Options
Maryland-style rye is our recommendation — it has a spicy, peppery quality that balances the floral sweetness of Tupelo Honey nicely. But bourbon works wonderfully too, leaning into that buttery warmth even further. Irish whiskey gives you something smoother and lighter. Scotch adds a smoky backbone if that’s your preference. The drink adapts well — choose what you love.
Other Variations to Try
- Add a ginger kick: Stir in a Ginger Honey Lollipop for a subtle warmth that plays well with the floral honey and lemon.
- Go bourbon-forward: Increase the whiskey to 1.5 oz and use bourbon for a richer, more spirit-forward drink.
- Citrus swap: Try orange juice in place of lemon for something softer and a little sweeter.
- Non-alcoholic: Skip the whiskey entirely and increase the lemon slightly. Brew the tea a little stronger. Still warming, still delicious.
Tupelo Honey Hot Toddy FAQs
What is the best honey for a hot toddy?
Any raw, minimally filtered honey will outperform processed grocery store honey in a hot toddy — the flavor is simply more interesting. For something genuinely special, Tupelo Honey is an exceptional choice. Its buttery sweetness and floral notes dissolve beautifully into warm liquid and add real depth to the drink. If you’re curious about how it stacks up against other premium honeys, take a look at our Tupelo Honey vs. Manuka Honey comparison.
What whiskey should I use in a hot toddy?
Maryland rye whiskey is our go-to for its spicy character, but bourbon, Irish whiskey, or Scotch all work well. Use a whiskey you genuinely like the flavor of — it will be front and center in the finished drink.
Can I make a hot toddy without alcohol?
Absolutely. Skip the whiskey and brew the tea a little stronger. Add a touch more lemon juice and let the honey do its sweetening work. It’s a genuinely good warm drink on its own terms.
Why use chamomile tea instead of hot water?
Plain hot water gets the job done, but chamomile tea adds a floral, lightly sweet layer that makes the drink taste more intentional. Our Good Night Tea blend includes chamomile, linden flowers, spearmint, rose petals, and lavender — flavors that complement Tupelo Honey particularly well.
How is a hot toddy different from a honey whiskey cocktail?
A hot toddy is a warm drink — served hot, typically in a mug, and built around the balance of warmth, sweetness, and citrus. Most honey whiskey cocktails are served cold, shaken or stirred, and built more like traditional cocktails. If you’re interested in cold honey-whiskey options, our whiskey honey drink roundup covers the classics.
What other Tupelo Honey cocktails and recipes can I make?
The Tequila Honeysuckle is a beautiful option that showcases Tupelo’s floral notes in a completely different, colder direction. Our Eastern Shore Honey Truffles are another way to let Tupelo Honey shine. And for a full look at what you can do with a jar, our Tupelo Honey Recipes guide covers eight different uses from cocktails to baking to simple everyday drizzles.
Ready to make it? Pick up a jar of Tupelo Honey and discover how much difference the right honey makes in a warm winter drink. And if you want to understand more about this honey before you buy, start with our complete guide to Tupelo Honey.
