Ginger Hot Toddy

The nightcap for a cold November evening

There's a particular kind of cold that asks for something warm in your hands, not just on your tongue. The ginger hot toddy is that drink: whisky, a measured splash of demerara syrup and lemon, topped with hot water and a splash of Gem Juice Original for the sharp ginger kick. Steam curling up from the glass, a cinnamon stick resting against the rim: the kind of nightcap that makes a dark evening feel shorter.

Why this ginger hot toddy works

Whisky and a touch of demerara syrup already know how to warm a room. What the ginger hot toddy adds is sharpness: Gem Juice Original cuts through the sweetness instead of adding to it, so the drink stays balanced rather than syrupy. A little goes a long way. The lemon keeps it bright, and the cinnamon stick turns it into something you want to hold onto for a while.

What you need

• 10 cl whisky
• Gem Juice Original, a splash per glass (2 to 3 cl)
• 2 teaspoons demerara sugar syrup
• 2 lemon slices, plus extra for garnish
• Hot water, to top up
• 2 cinnamon sticks

How to make it

1. Pour 5 cl of whisky and a teaspoon of demerara sugar syrup into each heatproof glass.
2. Add a splash of Gem Juice Original, about 2 to 3 cl per glass.
3. Top up with hot water and stir until the syrup dissolves.
4. Add a slice of lemon and a cinnamon stick to each glass.
5. Taste, and top up with a little more hot water if you want it milder.
6. Serve right away, while it's still steaming.

Tip: This is a by-the-fire drink, after a cold walk or as the last thing before bed. A little Gem Juice Original goes a long way, so taste as you top it up.

Made with Gem Juice Original. No added sugars, no preservatives, produced in Belgium.