Spiced Averna Toddy
A bitter herbal hot toddy with lemon and pepper-cinnamon brown sugar syrup, built for slow sipping when you want something warm and grown-up.
Ingredients
- For the spiced syrup:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- For the cocktail:
- 1 ounce Averna
- 1/2 ounce spiced syrup
- 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed juice from half a lemon
- 4 ounces boiling water
- Lemon peel for garnish
Directions
- For the spiced syrup, add the water and brown sugar to a medium saucepan, along with the peppercorns and cinnamon sticks, and place it over medium-high heat. Stir while it warms to a simmer, then pull the pan from the heat. Cover the saucepan and let everything steep for an hour and a half. Strain the syrup, then refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- For the cocktail, use a heatproof mug and add the Averna and spiced syrup first, followed by the lemon juice and boiling water. Add the lemon peel as the garnish, then serve immediately.