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Cocktail History
The Chartreuse Toddy is a winter cocktail that was created by the editors of PUNCH and was first published in their book Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails. The recipe takes notes from the classic Hot Toddy template by calling for a spirit, lemon, honey, and hot water, but this version adds creative flair by throwing Cognac and Green Chartreuse into the mix to create a rich, herbal aroma and flavor that enhance the drink’s warming qualities tenfold.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Cognac: This is a type of brandy made in Cognac, France with distilled white wine. We used Courvoisier VSOP Cognac because it has a rich mouthfeel and a delightful brandy spice with notes of peach, almond, and cinnamon. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative in place of the brandy.
Green Chartreuse: This is a liqueur made in France with over a hundred herbs and plants, spices, sugar, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try winter herb syrup in place of the Green Chartreuse.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Honey Syrup: This is a sweetener made with honey and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s simple recipe.
Star Anise: This is a star-shaped seed pod. We used star anise from the bulk section at our local grocery store.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Saucepan: This is used to warm the ingredients. We used the Cuisinart 3-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan with Cover.
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Tasting Notes
The Chartreuse Toddy features effervescent aromas of anise and the unique herbal blend of Chartreuse, and its taste combines the oaky warmth of brandy with the unmistakable herbaceousness of Chartreuse, both of which are balanced with some citrus and sweet honey.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: While our opinions of the “classic” Hot Toddy definitely differ, we were on the same page here and liked this unique drink a lot. If you’ve never tried it, add the Chartreuse Toddy to your seasonal rotation before spring arrives and hot drinks leave the menu.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This drink was fascinatingly delicious. As a lover of classic Toddys (single malt, lemon wedge, and hot water), this one was very distinct with its throat-warming notes of brandy, its nostril-cleansing aromas, herbal flavors of Chartreuse, and its tasty balance of lemon and honey. This is definitely one for the books on a cold night, and as the editors of PUNCH say, it is reminiscent of France itself.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“Of all the Hot Toddies we’ve tried so far, this one might just be my favorite. It doesn’t hurt that our tasting happened in the dead of winter here in Wisconsin either. This recipe is just so warm and soothing—perfect for a night at the cabin when the snow is coming down outside and you’re tucked under a heated blanket. If I were you, I would add the Chartreuse Toddy to my winter cocktail rotation pronto.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the editors of PUNCH.
Add water to a saucepan.
Warm over low heat for 3-4 minutes.
Add brandy, Green Chartreuse, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a mug.
Stir for 5-10 seconds.
Top with hot water.
Stir for 3-5 more seconds.
Garnish with star anise.
Ingredients
Directions
Add water to a saucepan.
Warm over low heat for 3-4 minutes.
Add brandy, Green Chartreuse, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a mug.
Stir for 5-10 seconds.
Top with hot water.
Stir for 3-5 more seconds.
Garnish with star anise.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative in place of the brandy and winter herb syrup in place of the Green Chartreuse to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Hot Cocktails
If you like this hot cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Mocha Rum Toddy: A rum cocktail made with coffee, dark crème de cacao, simple syrup, whipped cream, and cocoa powder
Banana Buttered Rum: A dark rum cocktail made with hot water, banana butter, star anise, and a cinnamon stick
Pumpkin Cider: An apple brandy and rum cocktail made with apple cider, pumpkin cubes, butter, sugar, whole cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and grated nutmeg
Tokyo Toddy: A sake cocktail made with mandarine Napoleon liqueur, brown sugar, ginger slices, and an orange slice
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