Hot Toddies
There’s a good reason humans have been warming up their liquor for centuries of winters. Our favorite barman tells all.
Anyone who has had Mexican Hot Chocolate knows how well cinnamon and spicy heat play with the dark richness of cocoa. So it only took one sip of Dark Corner Distillery’s Hot Mama Spiced Whiskey for me to know what concoction I wanted to build with it. This is a beautiful spirit. Chipotle, cinnamon and agave blend seamlessly, making it dangerously sippable. Even at 111 proof, the fiery heat of the alcohol is subdued in the heat of the flavor profile.
Ingredients
SERVINGS: Serves 8.
- 2 cinnamon sticks, crushed
- 2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
- 1 pinch salt
- ¾ cup raw sugar
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- Zest of ½ orange
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups milk
- 2 ounces unsweeted chocolate, chopped
- 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 12 ounces Dark Corner Distillery Hot Mama Spiced Whiskey
- 1 cup heavy cream, whipped and sweetened (or homemade marshmallows if you’re feeling fancy)
Instructions
In a non-aluminum saucepan combine cinnamon, vanilla beans, salt, sugar, pepper, orange zest, water and milk. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat and steep, covered, for 15 minutes
Strain liquid into a bowl then return to saucepan. Over medium-low heat, stir in chocolate (keep liquid below a simmer) and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract and cool.
Pour into a shallow, non-metallic container and refrigerate for at least 24 hours to allow the flavors to marry.
To serve, reheat gently, whisking to froth. Pour 4 ounces of hot chocolate into warmed coffee cups and stir in 1 ½ ounces Hot Mama Spiced Whiskey. Top with whipped cream or marshmallows.
About the Drink
The hot chocolate is a variation of my mom’s recipe. It has a deep richness, but is not the cloyingly sweet hot cocoa that you may have grown up with. If you would like a sweeter beverage you could add more sugar, but I would suggest you just mound up more whipped cream or marshmallows on top. (Mom pairs hers with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream.)
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241-B North Main Street
Greenville, SC
864-631-1144
