Is there any other cocktail that better evokes the winter holidays than a fig hot toddy? Chef Joanne Weir concocted a spiced fig ginger hot toddy recipe that brings the flavors of the season home.
Hot Toddy Recipe How-To
A few hot toddy ingredients are the building blocks: boiling water, lemon juice, bourbon, and a sweetener (honey is the common choice). While the original hot toddy centers on bourbon, other versions use brandy, whisky, or rum.
Hot toddies trace back to Scotland and are believed by some to have been invented in the 1700s. As to the term “toddy,” there are different ideas of its origin, but even still, to ask for a hot toddy is to expect a drink based on the premise above.
Spiced Fig for a Twist on Tradition
Joanne demonstrates creative liberty with her take on the hot toddy, bringing snug winter flavors in. Her spiced fig hot toddy features our Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid California Golden Dried Figs, playing up their slightly nutty, fruity flavor in a simple syrup. The syrup steeps the figs with orange peel, slices of fresh ginger, cloves, and a cinnamon stick. The aroma, while cooking, is the best kind of holiday scent—we wish it came in candle form. If you’re not imbibing, make the syrup anyway to sweeten hot tea with lemon for a mocktail version.
Warm Up to the Holidays with a Ginger Hot Toddy
Hot toddy drinks have a different kind of association than other boozy drinks. You might be surprised to learn that some people drink them with the idea that they can help colds and flus. And while, we aren’t going that far, our fig ginger hot toddy drinks do warm you up and are particularly good on cold winter evenings when you can’t shake the chill outside. So, put on a good movie, pull out the hot toddy ingredients, and pick out your favorite mug as this cozy drink welcomes the holiday spirit.
Spiced Fig Ginger Hot Toddy
Ingredients
Spiced Fig Simple Syrup
- 12 Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Golden Figs
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cup honey
- Peel of 1 orange . removed with a vegetable peeler
- 6 whole cloves
- 4 thin slices of fresh ginger
- 1 cinnamon stick
Spiced Fig Ginger Hot Toddy Recipe
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 4 ounces boiling water
- 3 ounces Spiced Fig Simple Syrup
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- Freshly grated nutmeg
- Cinnamon stick , as a garnsih
- Strip of orange peel
Instructions
Spiced Fig Simple Syrup
- Place the figs, water, honey, orange peel, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon stick in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, strain, pressing the spices, figs and orange peel, to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the spices, figs and orange peel. (Makes 9 fluid ounces or enough for 3 hot toddies)
Spiced Fig Ginger Hot Toddy
- Combine the bourbon, boiling water, spiced fig simple syrup and lemon juice in a glass mug and stir together. Grate a pinch of nutmeg onto the top. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and strip of orange peel.
