Ahh Fall weather is here! The lovely crisp weather, the leaves beautifully changing color, the dressing in cozy layers once again and the oncoming excitement of the holiday seasons are here. Then the alarm on your phone goes off. Suddenly you realize that the crisp weather will mean the seasonal calling of the heating oil guy again. Those so-called leaves mean you have to get out the old rake on what would’ve been a restful Saturday morning again. The cozy layers may not fit after a couple of seasons in the closet so it’s time to go shopping again. Finally, questions of ‘who’s house’, ‘who’s bringing what’ and ‘how many gifts do I have to buy this year’ creep in to make Thanksgiving more of a chore to feed the greedy and the December holidays a burden on your credit cards.
There can always be positives and negatives with anything. However, isn’t it quite interesting how a great cocktail can be the perfect remedy to commemorate a wonderful day or to salvage a horrible one? So when faced with the annoying task of clearing the yard of a million acorns or grumbling that it’s too early for the seasonal cashmere to be on sale, find some way to cope with the inevitable. Lemons make lemonade.
Now save some of those lemons for a real cocktail. While many attribute whisky to the South and Ireland, this cosmopolitan New York guy says whisky is year round, but especially relevant in the Fall. Why? Hot toddies! They’re that deliciously soothing comfort food in drink form that gratifyingly sneaks up on you with its warm spicy and fragrant kick. For my inaugural hot toddy of the season, I’ve chosen the wonderfully crafted Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky.
Four Roses has been creating their award-winning whiskies for over a century from their home in Louisville, Kentucky. Their Small Batch Whisky is handcrafted from a combination of four of their select bourbons for a unique and distinct homegrown flavor hence the moniker of Small Batch. The result creates an excellent hot toddy since Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky has a naturally spicy and woodsy flavor with a bit of sweet that when added to the ingredients for a hot toddy make a flavor profile that is very satisfying. Check out the simple hot toddy recipe using Four Roses Small Batch. With each sip try not to take Fall and everything that will ensue from it so seriously.
Classic Hot Toddy
1½ ounce Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
1 tablespoon honey
½ ounce lemon juice
1 cup hot water
Cinnamon stick or lemon wheel for garnish
Combined the first four ingredients into the bottom of a warmed mug. If desired, garnish with the cinnamon stick or lemon.
Side note: You’ll really be satisfied with using Four Roses Small Batch for your hot toddy. The notes lend themselves so harmoniously to a spicy hot toddy. Also, you’ll want to get the big bottle since a great hot toddy is so smooth and comforting, you’ll reach the bottom of the mug before you know it so better quadruple up on the ingredients and make a whole carafe. You’ll thank me later!
Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky is available now at your finer liquor, wine and spirits retailers and as always please remember to drink responsibly.
