For whatever reason, making infused whiskey has been on my list for awhile. I just thought it sounded like a fun thing to do on a freezing winter day, aside from the fact that it would make for an excellent cocktail! When we were in Portland over New Years we stopped at an amazing little bar and had Hot Toddy’s with apple cinnamon infused whiskey. They were the best Hot Toddy’s I’ve ever tasted! Being the only customers in the bar at the time, the bartender let us watch her make a fresh batch, step by step. When we got home, we had to try it out for ourselves! The steps were simple and the results were spectacular. Here’s how to do it:

Use a large glass container to hold your whiskey. Something along the lines of a large punch bowl will work perfectly. Drop a handful of cinnamon sticks into the bowl.

Start with peeling and chopping your apples (we used 4 Gala apples). Don’t worry about the cores too much, you’ll strain them out anyway.

Pour in 1 bottle of whiskey. You’ll want to use a low to medium grade (you don’t want to mess with the good stuff!)

Drop in the chopped apples. Finish off with a few more cinnamon sticks, stirring well to ensure apples and cinnamon sticks are completely covered in the whiskey.

Let sit overnight. The apples will absorb about half the bottle of booze. If you’re entertaining, be sure to make a double batch!

Pour into a pretty decanter, and you’re ready to serve!

Finishing Touches