The 7 Best Whiskeys For a Hot Toddy 

The days are getting shorter. The evenings are getting colder. And the weather is getting wetter. 

That can mean only one thing: it’s Hot Toddy season! 

Originating in 19th Century Scotland, this beautiful beverage was meant to soothe cold and flu symptoms and while we can’t promise that, we can promise an absolute belter of a drink for those winter nights. 

The Hot Toddy might seem complicated at first, but once you’ve got the basics of lemon juice, honey, boiling water and whiskey down, you’ll find making them a breeze. Just remember the lemon wheel and cinnamon stick to garnish for that final pop of flavor! 

The easiest way to mess up your Hot Toddy is to use the wrong base so, without further ado, light the fire and wrap up in your blanket: here are the best whiskeys for a Hot Toddy.

The 7 Best Whiskeys For a Hot Toddy 

1. Glengoyne 18

Where better to start with the best whiskeys for a Hot Toddy than Scotland: the country the drink hails from? 

The Glengoyne 18 is expensive, and that won’t be for everyone, but it’s one of the smoothest scotches on the market and is the best whisky for a Hot Toddy. 

Custard, honey, spice and butterscotch flavours all perfectly compliment the lemon and cinnamon in the Hot Toddy, while helping to sweeten up the honey. A long, caramel and malt finish will round off the Hot Toddy beautifully, making the perfect drink to ward off the winter cold while you’re wrapped up in your thickest blanket. 

The Glengoyne 18 isn’t one you’ll find in most supermarkets but it is available online.

It’ll cost a pretty penny but every cent goes toward class, craftsmanship and quality from the Scots at Glengoyne. Therefore, I simply have to put it top of the list.

Furthermore, once you’ve made your cocktail you’re left with a bottle of whisky that is an utter joy to drink neat. 

An exercise in pleasure and heritage. A truly excellent whisky and the best for a Hot Toddy.

2. Four Roses Small Batch

From expensive scotch, to entry level bourbon, the next whiskey on our list is Four Roses Small Batch. 

At around $20-30 a bottle, it’s more than easy to pick up and will get you started for your very first Hot Toddy. 

Four Roses Small Batch has a very balanced palate, with hints of cinnamon to really bring out the garnish in your Hot Toddy, with lemon and acacia honey notes also detectable. 

It’s almost like this was made for it! 

At this price, I challenge you to find a bourbon that compliments the Hot Toddy so perfectly. 

Another thing the Four Roses has going for it is its versatility. You’re done with a nice dinner and need something to enjoy alongside a cigar? No problem, the Four Roses makes a beautifully smooth Old Fashioned. 

You’re having a meal late on a summer evening and want something to whet your appetite beforehand? Four Roses Boulevardier. Easy choice. 

If you’re after a versatile whiskey that won’t so much dent (let alone break) the bank, the Four Roses is the best bourbon for a Hot Toddy.

3. Maker’s Mark 

A bourbon with a reputation for having one of the sweetest finishes in the game? A cocktail with honey and cinnamon designed to soothe cold and flu-like symptoms? 

Well, they say two plus two is four and in this case, the Maker’s Mark and the Hot Toddy are a match made in heaven (or the wheat fields of Kentucky, whichever you prefer). 

Don’t let the hazelnut, honey, and malmsey nose fool you though, there’s still a nice amount of rye, barley malt, and spice in the palate, making a delicate but brilliant balance to this bourbon, and that balance puts it up there with the best bourbons for a Hot Toddy. 

It’s priced affordably at around $30 and will be another versatile choice that makes more than just a soothing Hot Toddy. 

4. Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey 

Sweet tooth. noun. a great liking for sweet tasting foods. 

If this applies to you, let me tell you exactly what you need to do. Go down to your nearest store, buy a bottle of JD Honey, boil up some water and add the whiskey, honey and lemon juice. Thank me later. 

If you like your cocktails a little more punchy and bitter, this isn’t the drink for you. However, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey is the perfect gateway into whiskey and whiskey based cocktails if your cards normally fall on the sweeter side. 

For those that love a Sex on the Beach, a Pina Colada, or a Pornstar Martini, but need something else for the cold winter evenings indoors, give a Hot Toddy with JD Honey a go. 

You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Easily available, priced for the everyday customer, and not compromising on quality, the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey puts a spin on the Hot Toddy, and it’s still one of the best out there. 

5. Jameson Irish Whiskey 

Some places are just associated with whiskey. Scotland, the American Midwest and, of course, Ireland. And when you think of whiskey in a hot drink, the Irish are the first who spring to mind.

Jameson is famously the best whiskey for an Irish Coffee, but don’t count it out of a Hot Toddy. Jameson Irish Whiskey has a full, thick body with a hint of vanilla sweetness, making it a lovely choice to make a balanced Hot Toddy; not too sweet, not too strong and bitter. 

Put this against any bottom to mid shelf blended scotch and it’s standing head and shoulders above.

Easily available for under $30 online, and easily available in supermarkets (especially in Europe), Jameson is a great buy for the Hot Toddy and any other hot, alcoholic drinks, and more than deserving of its place on this list. 

6. Wild Turkey 101

On the slightly pricier side compared to choices like the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey or Jameson Irish Whiskey, the Wild Turkey 101 is a high quality, fairly sweet bourbon that makes a brilliant Hot Toddy for those harsh, cold times. 

Just under $40 a bottle, the Wild Turkey 101 isn’t a risky high end purchase, it’s just a quality bourbon.

A very balanced palate with vanilla and butterscotch sweetness is mellowed by notes of pepper and cigar box smokiness, so as not to overpower your taste buds when mixed with the honey and citrus of the Hot Toddy.

A long and slightly spicy finish will give a little kick to an otherwise slightly mellow drink, making the Hot Toddy fresh and new for seasoned veterans who are used to the regular sweetness. 

7. Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond Rye

A strong, 100 proof whiskey, the Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond is a long, smooth rye which makes a wonderful Hot Toddy.

Flavours which naturally compliment the Hot Toddy, such as caramel, cinnamon and orange zest, are balanced out by flavours which counterpoint it such as oak and pipe tobacco. 

At roughly $55, the Rittenhouse is a great midpoint between quality and value, and packs a punch into a Hot Toddy like few other rye whiskeys can.

A whiskey with a strong finish, the Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond Rye will leave hints of marmalade and spice lingering pleasantly on your tongue, a great addition to the already citrusy Hot Toddy. 

I couldn’t finish this list without including a rye whiskey and what better rye to include than one from the heartlands of Kentucky with one of the strongest palate/ finish combinations on the market? 

These Are the Best Bourbons For a Hot Toddy 

So there you have it. A selection of Scotch, Bourbon, Rye and even Irish whiskey to get yourself started with Hot Toddies.

While these are the best whiskeys for a Hot Toddy, they’re all incredibly versatile options and will make any cocktail with a whiskey base brilliantly. 

If you’re interested in learning more (which of course you are, we’re barely scratching the surface of whiskey based cocktails) then be sure not to miss our ‘Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned’ article here. 

Until then, enjoy soothing the throat with a Hot Toddy made with this excellent selection of whiskeys!