Best bourbon for a hot toddy: what to look for

The best bourbon for a hot toddy is a smooth, slightly sweet one at 80 to 100 proof, and a spicier rye works just as well if you like a drier drink. CBC Liquors in Westford stocks the bourbon, rye and mixers shelves you need, and this guide shows what to read on the label, how to make the drink and how to vary it.

What is the best bourbon for a hot toddy?

Look for a bourbon that tastes soft and rounded on its own: vanilla, caramel and a little baked fruit. Those flavors stay put when you add hot water, honey and lemon, while a harsh or very oaky bottle turns bitter once it is warmed.

You do not need a rare bottle. A solid everyday bourbon in the 80 to 100 proof range gives the best balance, because the drink is diluted with several ounces of hot water and the whiskey still has to be heard.

The Bourbon shelf at CBC Liquors, Westford is where to start. Read the label for the proof and the style words covered below, and ask at the counter if you want help choosing between a sweeter bottle and a spicier one.

Why does a smooth, sweeter bourbon work in a hot toddy?

Heat lifts aroma. Warm water carries the vanilla, caramel and toasted oak notes of a bourbon straight to your nose, so the drink smells as good as it tastes.

Honey and lemon do the rest. Honey adds body and sweetness, lemon adds brightness and cuts through it, and a bourbon with its own soft sweetness ties the two together instead of competing with them.

By law, bourbon is made from at least 51 percent corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. That corn gives it a natural sweetness, which is why the style suits a hot drink so well.

Should you choose a wheated or a high-rye bourbon?

Both are bourbon, and the difference is the secondary grain in the mash bill. A wheated bourbon uses wheat alongside the corn, which tends to make it softer, gentler and sweeter. A high-rye bourbon uses a larger share of rye, which adds black pepper, baking spice and a drier finish.

For a classic honey and lemon toddy, wheated is the easy choice. It is mellow, and nothing in it fights the honey. If you like a toddy with a little edge, a high-rye bourbon gives you spice without moving away from the bourbon flavors you know.

Labels do not always spell out the mash bill, so check the back label and the shelf description. If it is not printed, the staff at the Westford store can tell you what they know about a bottle.

When does rye whiskey make a better hot toddy?

Choose rye when you want the drink to taste drier and spicier. Rye whiskey must be made from at least 51 percent rye grain, and it brings pepper, herbs and a crisp finish that stands up well to lemon and winter spices.

A rye toddy is less sweet-forward than a bourbon one, so it suits people who find honey drinks too sugary. You can also add a touch more honey to balance it, since the whiskey has the backbone to carry it.

You will find rye on its own shelf at CBC Liquors, next to the bourbons, which makes it easy to pick up one of each and compare the two styles at home.

What proof should bourbon be for a hot toddy?

Aim for 80 to 100 proof. At 80 to 90 proof the whiskey is gentle and the drink is easy-going. At 100 proof, often labeled bottled-in-bond, the whiskey keeps its flavor even after a few ounces of hot water.

Higher than that and the alcohol can taste hot and sharp in a steaming mug, which is the opposite of what you want from a comforting drink. Barrel-strength bottles are better kept for sipping neat.

Proof is printed on the label as a number, or as a percentage that is half of it, so 45 percent alcohol by volume is 90 proof. Whatever you choose, measure your pour and take your time with it.

How do you make a simple hot toddy?

Pour 2 ounces of bourbon into a mug, add 1 tablespoon of honey and half an ounce of fresh lemon juice, then top with 4 to 6 ounces of hot water and stir until the honey dissolves.

The water should be hot but not boiling: boil the kettle, then let it sit for a minute or two so it is steaming but not rolling. Water straight off the boil flattens the whiskey and dulls the lemon, while water that has rested a little keeps both bright.

Taste and adjust. More honey if it is sharp, more lemon if it is sweet, a splash more water if the whiskey is strong. A lemon wheel on top and a cinnamon stick are optional, and both look right in the mug.

What are some good hot toddy variations?

Spiced: add a cinnamon stick, two or three whole cloves and a slice of fresh ginger to the mug before the water goes in. Let it steep for a minute so the spices flavor the drink.

Tea: replace the plain hot water with a cup of black tea or a herbal tea, brewed and rested the same way. It adds tannin and depth, and works especially well with a rye.

Orange and ginger: swap the lemon for an orange wedge and add a splash of ginger beer from the Mixers shelf for a livelier, fizzier warm drink. Or use warm cider in place of some of the water for an apple-forward version that suits a wheated bourbon.

Where can you buy bourbon, rye and mixers for hot toddies in Westford?

CBC Liquors is at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886, and the whole whiskey section, bourbon, rye and the rest, is there to browse. The store is open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pickup runs the same hours.

The shop also offers delivery, with delivery hours that end half an hour earlier than opening hours each day. The delivery areas page lists the towns served, including Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Carlisle and Lowell.

The cold-weather season runs from 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, and the store keeps 4,584 products and 1,883 brands in stock, so there is plenty to choose from. Customers rate CBC Liquors 4.7 out of 5 from 340 Google reviews.