Evan Williams
intro
A cozy, spiced Kentucky-style warm cocktail starring smooth Evan Williams bourbon, balanced with honey, lemon, and warm spices for cold winter sipping.
Ingredients
Steps
Prep serving mugs
Set out 4 heatproof glass mugs; warm each by rinsing with 60 ml boiling water, let sit 30 seconds, then pour out the water to prevent thermal shock and cracking when adding hot liquid.
Measure core ingredients
Add 45 ml (3 tbsp) Evan Williams bourbon, 15 ml (1 tbsp) raw honey, and 11 ml (roughly 2 tsp) fresh lemon juice to each pre-warmed mug. Stir each briefly with a long bar spoon for 5 seconds to start dissolving the honey.
Infuse spiced water
Pour 480 ml filtered water into a small 1L saucepan, add 0.5g ground cinnamon and 4 whole cloves, set over medium-low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer (82°C / 180°F, do not bring to a rolling boil) and hold at that temperature for 2 minutes to extract spice flavors, then remove from heat.
Combine and mix
Strain the hot spiced water through a fine-mesh sieve to remove whole cloves, then pour 120 ml (1/2 cup) of the spiced water into each prepared mug. Stir each drink vigorously for 10 seconds to fully dissolve the honey and evenly blend the bourbon, lemon, and spice flavors.
Add butter topping
Place one 7g (1/2 tbsp) thin pat of cold unsalted butter on the surface of each drink; do not stir, allowing the butter to slowly melt over 30 seconds to create a silky, rich, glossy top layer.
Garnish and serve
Slit one lemon wheel per mug to rest on the glass rim, and add one cinnamon stick to each mug as a stirrer. Serve immediately while the drink reaches a sippable 70°C / 160°F for best flavor.
Tips
2.Do not substitute granulated white sugar for honey, as it will not fully dissolve at the drink's serving temperature and will leave a grainy residue at the bottom of mugs.
3.For a lighter, dairy-free version, skip the butter pat and add a 1mm thin slice of fresh ginger to the spiced water during infusion for an extra bright, zesty kick.
OMG this hot toddy is a total game changer for our cold Chicago winter nights! Made it last night when my partner came home sniffling, used the exact Evan Williams spiced as called for, added an extra clove because I’m extra, and we were both cozy in 10 minutes flat. Already sent the recipe to my whole group chat for our annual holiday potluck next week!
Super easy recipe, no fancy steps which I love! I’m not much of a mixologist but this came out perfect first try. Only swap I did was use honey from my neighbor’s beehive instead of store bought, can’t beat that local sweetness.
Made this for my roommate who was down with a bad cold last week, he swears it cured his sore throat faster than any cough syrup. We’ve already made three batches since, it’s so quick to throw together after a long work day. 10/10 will be my go-to all winter long.
Okay I was a little skeptical because I don’t usually love Evan Williams spiced bourbon, but this? SO good. The lemon cuts the sweetness perfectly, and the cinnamon stick garnish makes it feel fancy even though it takes 10 minutes to make. Served it after our family dinner on Sunday and my parents begged for the recipe.
Absolute staple for our annual ski trip cabin weekends! We used to buy those pre-made toddy mixes that taste like artificial cinnamon, but making it from scratch with Evan Williams spiced is night and day. So easy to make a big batch for a group too, no mess, no fuss.
Tried this last night when we lost power during that random winter storm, heated the water on our wood stove and it hit different. Didn’t have a cinnamon stick so I used a pinch of ground cinnamon and it still worked great. Super forgiving recipe even when you’re working with random pantry staples!
Game. Changer. I’ve been making hot toddies wrong for years! I always used regular bourbon and dumped in way too much honey, but this recipe has the ratios exactly right. Made it for my book club last night and every single person asked for the link. Even my friend who hates whiskey liked it!
Solid recipe, super straightforward. I added a little star anise to mine because I had it in the pantry from making pho last month, and it paired so well with the Evan Williams spiced bourbon. Great base recipe to tweak to your own taste.
My whole family is obsessed! We made these after our Christmas tree lighting last weekend, even my 22 year old cousin who only drinks hard seltzers loved it. It’s warm, not too strong, perfectly spiced, and so quick to whip up when people pop over last minute. Will be making this all season long.
Great recipe for a lazy weeknight treat. I got home from a brutal commute in 20 degree weather, threw this together in 8 minutes flat, and was curled up on the couch watching football before I knew it. No fancy equipment needed, just a mug and a spoon, which is my kind of recipe.
I was looking for a signature warm cocktail for our annual ugly sweater party and this is IT. I did a test batch last night and my roommate said it’s the best thing I’ve ever made (rude, but fair). The Evan Williams spiced gives it that perfect cozy kick without being overpowering, and it’s easy enough to make for 20 people without stressing.
As a former bartender, I’m super picky about hot toddies, and this recipe nails it. A lot of home recipes either skimp on the bourbon or make it way too sweet, but this is perfectly balanced. The Evan Williams spiced is the perfect call here, no need to drop $50 on fancy bourbon for a great toddy.
Made this last night when I was starting to feel that post-holiday cold coming on, and wow. My throat felt so much better after one, and I slept like a baby. The warm spices, honey, and lemon are so soothing, and the little bourbon kick definitely helped me relax. 10/10 will keep the ingredients on hand all cold and flu season.