Snowpocalypse & Hot Toddy Cocktail

I had meant to share scenes from Snowpocalypse 2011 last week but never got around to it until now. You may recall I enjoyed the Blizzard of 2010 in all its glory and the second large storm of the winter proved no different. Except it did. We got even more snow and this was not the fluffy white stuff, this was the wet sticky heavy stuff.

White-out!

These wet pellets of snow meant business.

And the trees definitely suffered through it.

This weather calls for some warm boozy drinks. I decided to experiment with a Hot Toddy Cocktail. Some research proved that a hot toddy can be made with brandy, whiskey, or rum and your favorite tea. Recommends note green tea, black tea, or even just hot water. It was rather evident that personal preference plays a major role in crafting this cold weather cocktail to warm the soul.

Ingredients:

1 oz brandy, whiskey or rum

1 tbsp honey

1/4 lemon

1 cup hot water

1 tea bag

I purchased a bottle of Redemption High-Rye Bourbon Whiskey for $25. I'm a big fan of Makers Mark, but this proved a less expensive option. A classic American Whiskey, carefully aged two years in new charred oak barrels and bottled by hand in Kentucky; each bottle has the batch and bottle number handwritten on the label.

The small batch bourbon is 46% alcohol by volume featuring 38.2% premium rye, 1.8% barley malt and 60% corn. The spicy character of the rye contrasts with the sweet corn notes and is balanced by the addition of the barley malt. [via]

To make the cocktail, first I squeezed the juice from 1/4 of a lemon.

Then I drizzled in 1 teaspoon of honey.

I used Heavenly Organics Acacia Himalayan Raw Honey.

Then I added in the Bourbon, the tea (made separately) and stirred.

Yogi Chai Green Tea worked brilliantly.

If you use a tea you like to drink on its own you'll probably enjoy it spiked with Whiskey. (Assuming you do in fact like Whiskey.) As long as I'm not sipping it straight, we seem to get along just fine.

A perfect cup of tea, with a kick.

Snowpocalypse Day 2: The beautiful aftermath

Are you still enjoying the snow, or are you ready for winter to end already?