Warming up with a Hot Toddy

Mondays on the BottleBlog will feature a cocktail recipe that is sure to be just the thing to get you through the rest of the work week. Though we don't expect you'll bring in all the fixins into your place of employment, we hope you'll try our recipes responsibly at home! Today we beat the cold with a hot favorite.

It's cold in New Jersey. No, really... it's cold in New Jersey. The kind of cold that chills you to your core and turns your nose and cheeks into ice cubes if you dare step outside to take out the trash. This morning, my car wasn't fully warmed up until I actually arrived at work.

Last week we talked about hot chocolate and hot coffee drinks, and since the mercury hasn't risen at all (indeed, it has fallen quite drastically to single-digits), let's stick with some recipes that will warm our blood and bones.

Hot Tea Toddy

Rum isn't just a good partner for coffee, it also goes unexpectedly well with tea. Use a good Indian leaf, such as Assam or Darjeeling in this recipe, and strain it.

-1 1/2 measures (6 tsp) light rum
-2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) clear honey
-2.5 ml (1.2 tsp) ground cinnamon
-slice of lemon
-1 teacup hot black tea

Add all ingregients into a pan and gently warm until just about to boil. Add a piece of candied ginger for garnish, if desired.

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Hot Buttered Rum

Another hot preparation for winter drinking, this will cheer the heart if you've just come in from the cold.

-2 measures (3 tbsp) dark rum
-5ml (1 tsp) light muscovado (raw) or demarara (brown) sugar
-2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) ground cinnamon
-15 g (1/2 oz.) unsalted butter

Mix the rum and sugar in a tall glass. Add the cinnamon and butter, and then fill with hot water. Remember to stand a spoon in the glass to conduct the heat if the water has just boiled. Stir well to dissolve the sugar and the butter.