Recipes
Hot Vanilla Toddy
As the season gets cooler, warm your hands around this Hot Vanilla Toddy, where real vanilla and fruity quince turn a classic winter warmer into something truly special.
Serves: 1 (scale up as needed)
Prep time: 5 minutes
Base infusion: Vanilla whisky can be pre-infused up to a week ahead
This recipe includes
Organic Madagascan Vanilla Pods
Ingredients
- 50ml vanilla-infused whisky or dark rum (see note)
- 15ml quince or damson shrub, or a good quality quince liqueur
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 tsp demerara sugar or sugar syrup
- 100ml just-boiled water
- A short piece of vanilla pod, to garnish
Chef's Notes
The pre-infused vanilla spirit is worth prepping several days ahead, since it needs time to develop.
Method
1. To infuse the base spirit, split a vanilla pod lengthways, add it to a bottle of whisky or dark rum, and leave for at least 3–5 days, shaking occasionally, then strain if a cleaner finish is preferred.
2. Warm a heatproof glass, add the vanilla spirit, shrub, bitters and sugar, then top with just-boiled water and stir. Garnish with a piece of vanilla pod.