When the weather starts to cool down, nothing beats a hot and relaxing drink. While you could warm up with a cozy mug of hot cider or chocolate, we prefer a hot toddy. This classic cocktail almost always makes an appearance (or three) around the holiday season. However, whether you're celebrating Sober October or just want to avoid alcohol over Thanksgiving, you can make a non-alcoholic version. 

Fortunately, an alcohol-free hot toddy tastes just as good as the real deal, especially when using Seir Hill's Mashville whiskey alternative. This way, you get the enjoyment of the toddy with all of the flavor and none of the regret. We'll show you how to make the perfect hot toddy and help you learn more about this quintessential hot cocktail.  

An Intro to Seir Hill Mashville 

In recent years, non-alcoholic spirits have been gaining in popularity. Unfortunately, until a few years ago, the best non-alcoholic beverages tasted remarkably different than their traditional counterparts. So, if you were looking to avoid a hangover or stay sober, you had to choke down some less-than-desirable options. 

Thankfully, Seir Hill is committed to ensuring that alcohol-free cocktails are just as delicious and refreshing as those with actual liquor. The company started because its founder, Brian Miller, wanted to make a tasty Old Fashioned. At the time, alcohol-free whiskey left a lot to be desired, so Brian set out to change the game. 

After his hard work, Mashville was born. This whiskey alternative has the same aromas and tasting notes as the real deal, but without alcohol, gluten, or even sugar. You can drink as many hot toddies as you want without an ounce of regret the following day. Mashville is a genuine delight, but Seir Hill also offers non-alcoholic rum and tequila too if your cocktail list is extensive.  

Making a Hot Toddy Mocktail With Mashville

Nothing brings the family together like sipping cocktails during the holidays. With a Mashville Hot Toddy, you can all drink without getting loosey goosey. Also, alcohol-free hot toddies are great for when you're feeling under the weather and want a hot beverage to nurse yourself back to health. Regular whiskey can counteract over-the-counter medicine, but Mashville won't affect anything you may be taking. 

So, if you're ready to warm your spirit with this alcohol-free spirit, start heating your water and get your lemons ready - it's time to mix! 

What You'll Need

• Saucepan - The size of the pan shouldn't matter unless you plan on making a significant batch of hot toddies for your family. However, since this drink is best served warm, you don't want to mix too much at a time. Otherwise, you could wind up burning the honey or the Mashville, creating an acrid and sour-tasting cocktail. 
• One Cinnamon Stick
• 3/4 Cup Water
• 1.5 oz Whiskey
• 2 to 3 tsp Honey
• 2 to 3 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 lemon round 
• Ceramic or Glass Mug

How to Make a Hot Toddy Mashville Mocktail

The goal of a hot toddy is to make the water hot, not boiling. If you boil your water beforehand, it can ruin the drink by melting or burning the rest of the ingredients. Instead, pour your water into a saucepan and get it to simmer for a few minutes. Then, pour the liquid into your drinking mug. 

Stir your Mashville, honey, and lemon juice into the water. Keep stirring until the honey disappears. At this point, you should taste your cocktail to see if it's too sweet or citrusy. Depending on your preference, you can add another teaspoon of honey or lemon juice. 

Once the drink is mixed, top it with a lemon round and use a cinnamon stick as a garnish/stirring stick. If you want your cocktail to have some extra cinnamon flavor, we recommend stirring it with the stick for a few minutes before drinking. Doing this will also help it cool down so you don't burn your lips or tongue.

The hot toddy is also a cocktail that's just begging for a unique twist. Some recommendations include using oranges instead of lemons or agave syrup instead of honey. Feel free to add a splash of fruit juice to the mix as well for something extra delicious. Pomegranates and apples are particularly well-suited for a toddy. 

A Brief History of the Hot Toddy

The origin of the hot toddy dates back several hundred years to British-occupied India. In the early 1600s, the British adapted a Hindi drink called a Taddy. This regional beverage used fermented palm sap instead of honey and liquor. The British loved the Taddy so much that they decided to make it their own. 

Although the first hot toddies were likely made in the 1600s, the term "hot toddy" didn't become official until 1786. The definition of a hot toddy was an alcoholic drink made from spices, sugar, and hot water. Although the exact ingredients have changed over the years, the broad definition has stayed the same for centuries. 

Because alcohol was often the drink of choice for many individuals (in lieu of water or healthier alternatives), the hot toddy was recommended as a treatment for the common cold. Doctors used to tell their patients to drink toddies, and some stories say the cocktail was invented by an Irish doctor named Robert Bentley Todd. In this case, the name stemmed from the doctor's surname, not the Indian drink. 

While it's impossible to go back in time and figure out the true origin of the hot toddy, it was likely a mix of both situations. Perhaps Dr. Todd sampled the Indian drink and started prescribing it to his patients. Around the same time, British soldiers, sailors, and expats probably adapted the Indian recipe and started making it at home. After all, Great Britain is known for its gloomy and cold weather, so a hot cocktail would likely spread from multiple sources no matter what. 

These days, hot toddies have been adapted to use different liquors (i.e., brandy or rum) and fruits. So, if you're in the mood for a unique toddy, feel free to use Seir Hill rum and mix it with different fruit juices to see what works. That's the great thing about cocktails - they're made to be adapted and changed. After all, the only difference between a Rum and Coke and a Cuba Libre is a lime wedge. Similarly, a Mint Julep and a Whiskey Smash are almost identical, with just one variation between them.  

When to Serve a Hot Toddy Mocktail

Technically, you could drink a hot toddy any time of year. However, it's usually not refreshing to have a hot cocktail during the summer, so most people drink them during the holiday season. September through March is a good time to make toddies, but November through January are peak season. 

Also, you can easily make a large batch of hot water and have party or holiday guests mix their own toddies. As long as you have a bottle of Mashville, a bottle of fresh honey, and some fresh lemons around, it's easy to make the best hot toddy you've ever tasted.