Perfect for the colder months, toddies are balmy mixtures of hot water and liqueur, which also serve as palatable medicines to soothe symptoms of colds and holiday hangovers. Winter spices and syrups are mixed with rum, whiskey, bourbon, and other dark spirits and paired with sweet treats such as marshmallows, flavored syrups, and whipped cream in creative presentations.
Below is a list of Miami's five hottest toddies. They're the perfect excuse to cozy up with loved ones and share stories this holiday season.
1. Beaker & Gray. This rustic-style eatery in Wynwood is known for its crafty cocktails. The Marco Polo is a steamy mixture of chamomile tea spiked with Gra'it grappa, clover honey, and habanero bitters. "As a Miami native, one would not expect me to love toddies as much as I do," bar director Ben Potts says. "Toddies are versatile — great for when you're not feeling 100 percent or just when you'd like a warm beverage with a kick." 2637 N. Miami Ave., Miami; 305-699-2637; beakerandgray.com.
Cocktails at the Christmas on 10th Street include the bourbon-and-rum-based Bulleit-Proof Nog.
Courtesy of Fadó Irish Pub
3. Cvltura. Andrew Peñaranda is the mixologist at this new eatery in downtown Miami, and his version of the classic Latin cocktail La Abuelita is a fusion of Latin American cultures. Dashes of Angostura bitters, Maker's Mark bourbon, Abuelita Mexican cocoa, and algarrobina — a Peruvian carob syrup — are stirred together and heated on the stove. It's served in a Nutella-rimmed coffee cup ($15). 1100 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-808-3507; memiami.com.
4. Nautilus South Beach. The Ron Barcelo’s Bomb Tea is made with cinnamon syrup and Ron Barcelo Onyx, a rum that is aged for ten years in bourbon casks with a heavy char grade and filtered through onyx stones ($13). 1825 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-503-5700; sixtyhotels.com.
5. No. 3 Social. At this rooftop cocktail bar in Wynwood, enjoy live music and views of downtown Miami all lit up as you sip a warm cup of Lookin’ for Some Hot Stuff, a dark-rum hot chocolate enriched with walnut bitters and hot cocoa. Sweet and creamy, the dessert-like drink comes topped with torched marshmallows ($15). 50 NW 24th St., Miami; 305-395-5811; no3social.com.
