Name: Fall Apple Cider Hot Toddy
Yield: 1 cocktail
Ingredients: 1½ oz (45 ml) bourbon or apple brandy (Calvados, Laird's Applejack); 6 oz (180 ml) fresh apple cider; 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup); ½ oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice; 1 cinnamon stick; 3 whole cloves; 1 thin slice of fresh ginger; 1 star anise; Thin apple slice, for garnish

Fall Apple Cider Hot Toddy

A hot toddy is medicine in a mug — warm, honey-sweet, and spiked just enough to loosen your shoulders. This fall version uses fresh apple cider as the base instead of plain hot water, which makes it taste like autumn in a cup. Sip it when the evenings get cold and you need something that warms from

Ingredients

1½ oz (45 ml) bourbon or apple brandy (Calvados, Laird's Applejack)
6 oz (180 ml) fresh apple cider
1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)
½ oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
3 whole cloves
1 thin slice of fresh ginger
1 star anise
Thin apple slice, for garnish

Method

**Heat the cider.** Pour the apple cider into a small saucepan with the cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, and star anise. Warm over medium-low heat until steaming and just below a simmer — about 5 minutes. Don't boil (it concentrates the tannins and turns the cider harsh).
**Dissolve the honey.** Add the honey to the warm cider and stir until fully dissolved.
**Strain and combine.** Strain the spiced cider into a warmed mug (run the mug under hot water first to pre-heat it). Add the bourbon and lemon juice. Stir.
**Garnish** with a cinnamon stick, star anise, and a thin apple slice floated on top.
**Drink slowly.** This isn't a shot — it's a ritual.
*Variations:**
**Classic Hot Toddy**: Replace the apple cider with 6 oz hot water. Increase honey to 2 tablespoons.
**Ginger Hot Toddy**: Add 1 oz fresh ginger juice (grate ginger and squeeze through cheesecloth) and reduce cider to 5 oz.
**Rum Toddy**: Replace bourbon with dark rum (Appleton Estate or Mount Gay).
*Storage:** Spiced cider base (without alcohol) can be made in a large batch and stored refrigerated for 4 days. Reheat gently and add spirits per mug when serving. Great for parties.