For this special gifting creation, I give you not one, but TWO options to build the Ultimate Hot Toddy. We put together a collection of Dried Ingredients that works great with Gin and/or Brandy as the base, making this a great gifting idea for the household with varying palates.
This concept came together on a special segment for Breakfast Television. Want to watch my segment? Catch it online by following this link HERE.
Choosing between Brandy or Gin for your Hot Toddies
Hot Toddies are traditionally made with Whisky, but I am always one to experiment out of the typical. This year Brandy has reigned supreme. I love it for so much. Replacing your Whiskies, Rums and even Aged Tequila recipes with Brandy is something you need to test yourself, or having a classic Sidecar cocktail if you haven’t had the pleasure of that yet.
I love the Remy Martin family. From the VS, Signature release and this VSOP featured here, they offer incredible brandies at an even better value. It’s become my go-to for brandies, as it should be for you. Now for this recipe, I decided to feature the VSOP as a luxury option (although still great value in terms of VSOP category) for gifting. And simply tie the piping bag with the Dried Ingredients and you’re winning!
But why has Gin gotten my attention for the Ultimate Hot Toddy? Well, maybe because I’ve come to appreciate a lot more Gin Martini’s and how beautiful a bright, warm toddy can be with Gin. If you’ve been following Liquid Culture for a while, Mataroa is a Mediterranean Gin that I’ve loved for a very long time. So it comes as no surprise that I love it in this! The tasting notes perfectly pair with dried ingredients in the piping bag, and it makes a mean Gin and Tonic. A must-have in your bar.
So What’s In Your Dried Ingredients Package?
The ingredients in this package are simple, and planning ahead is key, especially if you want to gift this to a bunch of people at your office or for your family members. Each fruit/citrus has varying times for dehydrated and depending on how thick you cut the slices, will also affect the dehydration time. Key notes are that a temperature of 130 degrees F at about 7-10 hours works best. Rosemary does NOT need that much time, only a couple hours should suffice. As well as the Ginger. If you’re nervous about dehydrating for the first time, check out this write up HERE that goes through everything when it comes to dehydrating. Then I would recommend looking up each fruit and how best to dehydrate. Now here’s that list of ingredients for this package:
- Dried Ingredients: (Create 4 servings per jar)
- 3 x 2 inch Ginger slices (dehydrated)
- 2 Orange Wheels (dehydrated)
- 2 Lemon Wheels (dehydrated)
- 1 Cinnamon
- 1 Rosemary Sprig (dehydrated)
- 1 Nutmeg
Building your Hot Toddy
When gifting this item, you can simply write it on a tag, or print off a QR code so that it can link to the recipe (whether it be an image or you can even direct it to my website for reference!). Otherwise, this recipe is insanely simple for your guests to make at home!
Infused Hot Toddy Recipe
The hardest part of this recipe is deciding whether you use Brandy or Gin. This simple infusion brings a pop to all the flavours for these delicate, yet delicious Hot Toddies.
– Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
To Make Your Hot Toddy (Single Serving):
- 0.75 oz Brandy or Gin
- 0.25 dried ingredients in package (except Nutmeg)
- 2 – 3 oz Boiled Water
- Optional Honey for preference
Instructions
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To make the Hot Toddy, warm your glass first by pouring boiled water inside while you get the ingredients together.
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Steep the Dried ingredients (except nutmeg) in boiled water for 5 minutes before pouring into the mugs.
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When ready, dump the hot water in the glasses to heat it up, pour your Brandy or Gin, optional Honey for preference, and top with steeped boiled water.
Recipe Notes
If you want to put together the whole piping bag container, that can make 4 servings. Let it steep in 1.5 cups of boiled water for 5 minutes before pouring into your mug.
