Hot Jenever Toddy

Intro: Hot Jenever Toddy

The Hot Jenever Toddy is based on a classic Hot Toddy or a Hot Gin Toddy. The full herbal flavor of the liquor complements the spices typically added to these beverages and works well with both honey and sugar.

Jenever is a strong hard liquor distilled from maltwine and a blend of botanicals (mostly juniper berries). It is the predecessor of gin. Depending on which variety you try, the flavor is usually complex, spicy, and/or floral.  Jonge Jenever is frequently used for mixed drinks. Oude Jenever is smooth enough to sip alone; I would liken it to drinking a single malt Scotch although the flavors are quite different.  There are also a variety of Jenever schnapps.

Jenever is (I believe) only produced in the Netherlands and can be difficult to obtain internationally. Try looking for Bols or asking at a specialty liquor store.

STEP 1: Obtain Your Ingredients

1 1/4 oz Jonge Jenever: Jonge Jenever is usually a bit cheaper than Oude and is intended for mixing (although it can be drunk alone).

2 oz Hot Water: Boil on the stove or in the microwave.

1 tsp Sugar or Honey: Depending on your taste. The sugar results in a sweeter toddy while the honey one tastes spicier.

1 Cinnamon Stick to garnish

Heat Resistant Goblet or Mug

STEP 2: Build Ingredients

Add your ingredients to your heat-resistant glass in order: Jenever, hot water, and sweetener of choice.  Stir and garnish with cinnamon. 

STEP 3: Enjoy!

Enjoy your warm beverage with a plate of Speculaas cookies.

Tip: If you don't have glassware specifically for hot beverages like this, mix the beverage in a heat resistant mug.  When the liquid has cooled a little, pour it into a more attractive glass. Avoid really delicate glass or very cold vessels. I use a short stemmed glass. Be careful not to burn yourself.

Variations: Try other toddy styles by adding lemon juice or other spices. Jenever can be used in place of gin in nearly any cocktail.

Comments

[lemonie]

I like Jenever, do you get much cinnamon-flavour coming out of this into the booze?

L

[SquirrelBrained]

I didn't get much cinnamon flavor out of this without muddling the heck out of the cinnamon stick.  I stirred my first one pretty aggressively though and got a little hint.

[lemonie]

I guess soaking the sticks in the bottle would do it, but then you'd be changing the flavour of the bottle. It's decoration.

L

[fritsie123]

Just tried it, as I happened to have all the ingredients. Man, this stuff gets you hammered in zero-point-zero seconds flat! I'm going to have another and then I expect a very good nights worth of sleep!

Excellent drink for insomniacs, i reckon... :-)

[SquirrelBrained]

Indeed it does. Jenever is really strong (apparently can't-sell-the-real-stuff-in-the-US-strong if Bols salespeople are to be believed).  Glad you enjoyed it. :)