Apple Cider Hot Toddy Mocktail

As the weather cools down, nothing soothes the spirit like a warm mocktail. Although there are many options that fit the holiday season, there's a special place for the hot toddy. This beverage has a fascinating history that starts in India and ends in Great Britain. However, while its history is a bit sordid, the hot toddy is a mainstay of the holidays.

Whether you're planning on warming yourself up or making a big batch for friends and family, here's everything you need to know about making an apple cider hot toddy mocktail.

A Brief Introduction to the Hot Toddy

According to cocktail historians, the story of the hot toddy begins in British-occupied India circa the early 1600s. During this time, native Indians drank a beverage made from fermented palm sap, which they called a "taddy." Realistically, the British heard the word "toddy" and, after sampling it for themselves, decided to recreate it for themselves.

While the original beverage was made from palm sap, it changed and shifted over the decades. By 1786, the drink was established as an "official" cocktail made of liquor, hot water, spices, and sugar.

The toddy became a mainstay of British cuisine and culture for a couple of reasons. First, it's served warm, handy for cold fall and winter nights in England and Scotland. Second, the ingredients are almost always widely available, and most people have them at home already.

While the “taddy to toddy” story is a likely origin, there are conflicting reports of a different birthplace. According to some, an Irish doctor named Robert Bentley Toddy used to prescribe a prototype of the hot toddy to his patients. Since it was served warm, it would have been called a "hot toddy," so named for its inventor. Realistically, the true origins of the beverage are likely a combination of both stories, although it's hard to corroborate what exactly happened.

But what about the apple cider vinegar? It's harder to pinpoint when people started making a hot toddy with apple cider vinegar, but the results are more than delicious to warrant a dedicated recipe. Also, if vinegar seems too off-putting for your beverage, you can switch to regular apple cider instead.

Since the toddy is often considered a wellness drink, and apple cider vinegar is often used for wellness purposes, it makes sense to merge the two. While we can't claim that it cures the common cold, it can wake you up and help you feel better.

What You'll Need to Make an Apple Cider Hot Toddy Mocktail

Regarding equipment, the only thing you'll need to make an alcohol-free apple cider hot toddy is a kettle or pot to heat up the water. Depending on your needs, you may also need a pitcher to serve multiple people at once.

The ingredient list for this mocktail is:

• 1 oz Mashville Alcohol-Free Whiskey
• 2 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 tbsp Pure Honey
• 1/4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/4 cup Hot Water
• Lemon Wedge as a Garnish

In this case, the apple cider vinegar works as the "exotic spices" that typically accompany a hot toddy. This way, you don't have to worry about having a fully stocked spice rack to make this mocktail.

How to Make an Apple Cider Hot Toddy Recipe

First, you want to heat your water. While warming up, you can mix the honey, vinegar, and lemon juice in your preferred cocktail cup. Then, once the water is as hot as you want, pour it into the mixture and stir well. Now is the time to pour in your Mashville whiskey alternative, which will elevate the apple cider drink to something exceptional.

Variations of the Apple Cider Hot Toddy

Because this apple cider drink recipe is so straightforward, we don't blame you if you want to spice things up a bit (pun intended). Fortunately, you can let your mocktail creativity shine as this beverage works with various alternatives. Here are a few of our 

favorite Hot Toddy variations.

• Use Regular Apple Cider - Apple cider vinegar has a strong flavor and helps wake up the rest of the ingredients. However, if you want your mocktail a little sweeter and smoother, you can use regular cider. A hot toddy cider mocktail is a perfect crowd-pleaser and works for all kinds of get-togethers.
• Use Marmalade Instead of Honey - The honey adds some necessary sweetness but is also pretty plain. You can use marmalade instead if you don't mind having a thicker, somewhat "chunkier" beverage. Marmalade helps offset the vinegar flavor and tastes delicious when mixed with everything else.
• Brew Tea - Hot water is necessary for a toddy, but you don't have to use plain water if you don't want to. One way to enhance the overall flavor is to brew tea that complements the toddy's flavor profile. For example, peppermint tea can give the whole drink a more festive vibe, while black tea adds just a little extra spice to wake up your taste buds.

No matter how you decide to make your non-alcoholic apple cider hot toddy, Seir Hill has you covered. Mashville is an excellent whiskey alternative, and it works perfectly in mocktails like this one.