This post is sponsored by Noble Oak.

With temperatures dropping and holidays approaching, I’m kicking back and relaxing this winter with this Spiced Hot Toddy recipe. It’s full of flavor and is a lovely twist on a classic winter cocktail.

Over the last year, my husband and I have ventured into the world of cocktails. What started out as a simple bar cart is now stocked with a solid collection of bottles.

We started with the basics – your classic big name liquor brands that you see in the store and on commercials.

But as we began thinking about what went into the bottles we were purchasing, we wanted to make an impact with our newfound mixology hobby.

And that’s why we now drink Noble Oak.

Noble Oak is a brand with a purpose – every bottle plants a tree.

About Noble Oak

Noble Oak is a great whiskey with a noble heart. They’re on a mission to provide delicious spirits while keeping sustainability in mind. And to take it a step further, every bottle purchased plants a tree. How cool is that?

So let’s talk about the whiskey.

Noble Oak gifted me two bottles to try – and I was blown away with how delicious they are.

First, their Double Oak Bourbon. It’s an award winning bourbon that’s finished with sherry-seasoned oak. It’s a beautiful chestnut color. There are hints of dried fruit, spices, vanilla, and honey. Yum!

The Double Oak Bourbon's fruit and spice flavors make for really interesting cocktail possibilities, but it's rich, smooth, and great neat or on the rocks.

Next is Noble Oak’s Rye. I love Rye, and this is one of the best one’s I’ve ever had. Noble Oak Rye is finished in Port Wine Seasoned Oak Staves. This is something that’s incredibly unique, and I love this creative finish on a beautiful spirit.

The Rye is a dark mahogany color. It has flavors of toffee, maple syrup, lemongrass, and allspice. Like this Bourbon, this is great in a cocktail, on the rocks, or just neat.

If you'd like to try these delicious bourbons out for yourself - you can get $1 shipping on all Noble Oak products on www.caskers.com using the discount code SHIPNOBLEOAK.

The Cocktail: Spiced Hot Toddy

This cocktail recipe is a spin on a hot toddy. A hot toddy is a cocktail made of whiskey, hot water, lemon, and honey. It’s a delicious treat during chilly months.

This version is a spiced up Hot Toddy. The addition of ginger, cinnamon, and star anise adds a rich spiced flavor. And the vanilla and honey sweeten it up.

I recommend garnishing with dried citrus, cinnamon sticks, or even fresh herbs like rosemary. P.S. If you’re looking to make dried citrus, check out how to here.

Spiced Hot Toddy Recipe

Ingredients

¾ cup water
3 thin ginger slices
3 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp honey
2 shots Noble Oak Rye

Directions

Combine water, ginger, cinnamon sticks, star anise, vanilla extract, and honey in a small saucepan. Bring to a medium heat and stir until all of the honey is dissolved.

Remove from heat and add Noble Oak Rye. Stir gently. Remove the ginger, cinnamon, and star anise and serve in a heat-safe mug.