The 10 Best Whiskeys for your Hot Toddy

Hot water, honey, lemon and whiskey. Making a Hot Toddy is really just that easy. So, how do you spruce up a cocktail with such simple ingredients? Well, it’s all in the whiskey you choose.


You could go with something flavored to add a little something extra to your mug. You can go with a super sweet bourbon, or a spicy rye. It’s really just a matter of your taste. But, to help you wade through our collection of whiskey — there’s more than 200 to choose from! — we collected our ten favorites.


Without further ado, here’s our ten favorite whiskeys for your Hot Toddy:

Best Whiskey Under $100

FEW Single Malt Whiskey

Make yourself a luxurious Hot Toddy with FEW Single Malt Whiskey. FEW Spirits makes this American single malt with malted barley that’s smoked with cherry wood. Subtly smoky, FEW Single Malt Whiskey is littered with notes of semi-sweet chocolate and cappuccino, perfect for rounding out your Hot Toddy. 

Corgi Cardigan Whiskey

Hot Toddies are cozy cocktails. And there’s no cozier whiskey than Corgi Cardigan Whiskey. So naturally, it’s one of the best whiskeys for making the cold-weather cocktail. This whiskey from Corgi Spirits is light and clean with a spicy finish. When the cold weather calls for a Hot Toddy, make it perfect with a bottle of Corgi Cardigan Whiskey.

KOVAL Four Grain Whiskey

A four grain mash makes this whiskey from Chicago’s KOVAL four times better for making Hot Toddies. KOVAL Four Grain Whiskey is sprinkled with notes of ripe banana, caramel, fig and cola. And its smoky finish makes for a complex Hot Toddy that’ll keep you warm, even against the harshest Chicago winters.

Copper Queen Whiskey

Make your Hot Toddy with a little bit of liquor legacy, thanks to Iron Fish Distillery. The Michigan distillery revitalized a storied whiskey recipe that’s perfect for making a Hot Toddy. Copper Queen Whiskey has a distinct earthiness and delicious fruity spice. Use all that flavor to make a restaurant-quality Toddy. 

Gamekeeper Whiskey

Make the smoothest Hot Toddy you’ve ever had with this single barrel whiskey. Gamekeeper Whiskey is unbelievably buttery, but it isn’t a one-note pony. It’s a dynamic whiskey with flashes of ginger and a peppery finish. Start boiling some water and grab a bottle of Gamekeeper, you’ll make one of the tastiest Hot Toddies ever. 

Best Whiskey Under $50

Downtown Toodeloo Rock and Rye

If you have a sweet tooth, make a Hot Toddy with Downtown Toodeloo Rock and Rye. Rock and Rye is a popular liqueur that mixes rye whiskey and rock candy. You can probably imagine how delicious that is. This Rock and Rye from La Crosse Distilling Co. rides the line between sweet and spicy, and it’ll work wonders on your toddy. 

Cooperstown Spitball Cinnamon Whiskey

If you like spice, this is your whiskey. Punch up your Hot Toddy recipe with Spitball Cinnamon Whiskey from Cooperstown Distillery. Made with three different types of cinnamon, Spitball packs some serious heat. You’ll put the “hot” in Hot Toddy when you make your drink with this cinnamon-flavored whiskey from Cooperstown.

Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey

When you make your Hot Toddy with 1884 Small Batch Whiskey from Uncle Nearest, you’re making a drink filled with whiskey history. Nathan “Nearest” Green was known as the “Godfather of Tennessee Whiskey,” and you can taste his legacy in this whiskey. Make your Hot Toddy one for the history books with the pleasant sweetness of 1884 Small Batch Whiskey.

Best Rye Whiskey

Driftless Glen Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

This whiskey from Driftless Glen may not pack the same spicy punch as Spitball Cinnamon Whiskey, but it’s got some heat. Driftless Glen Single Barrel Rye Whiskey is made with a 75% rye mashbill. And that means there’s a whole lot of pep to this whiskey. Use the fruity and rye spice kicks to kick your classic Hot Toddy recipe up a notch.

Best Wheat Whiskey

Dry Fly Straight Washington Wheat Whiskey

This three-year-old whiskey is just what your Hot Toddy has been missing. Made from locally sourced wheat, Dry Fly Straight Washington Wheat Whiskey is smooth and gentle. Warm notes of honeyed apple, fresh-baked biscuits and peaches make Dry Fly Distilling’s whiskey the perfect companion for your Hot Toddy recipe.

If you’re looking for a Hot Toddy recipe…

Ingredients:

  • 0.75 cups Hot Water
  • 1.5 oz. Whiskey
  • Honey, to taste
  • Lemon Juice, to taste
  • Lemon Wedge, for garnish

Directions:

  • Bring water to a boil, then pour in a mug
  • Add whiskey, honey and lemon juice, then stir
  • Garnish with lemon wedge and enjoy!