High West Wednesdays: Hot Toddy

The ultimate winter warmer, inspired by snowboarding

Jump to the recipe.

Part artistry, part athleticism, all adventure. There are few sports that blend the three so seamlessly to their core. That’s probably why the snowboarding bug comes for everyone at some point. Seriously, what’s not to love about parking lot tailgates, high-fives after sticking a new trick, and the collective thrill of bluebird days? And what other culture welcomes everyone—old-school shredders, weekend warriors, and never-evers just learning to link their turns—like they’re old friends?

Our next cocktail recipe from High West is dedicated to chasing those “best day ever” moments with your buds: the early-morning corduroy, waist-deep powder, and spontaneous road trips when a storm rolls in. It celebrates endless pursuit that never feels repetitive, and it’s right at home with dope stories swapped over après. This time, we’re raising a glass to jibs and jams, face shots and freshies, and buttering with your favorite bruhs. With reverent stoke, we bring you the best way to end a sick day snowboarding, the ultimate toasty bevvie, the Hot Toddy.

High West’s take on this tried-and-true recipe uses their flagship whiskey, the Double Rye. This sipper with some spice pairs perfectly with honey, cinnamon, ginger, and lemon, which add to this drink’s warming qualities. While a traditional Hot Toddy adds lemon juice straight into the mix, this recipe swaps it for ginger juice—a spicy aromatic add that’s worth an extra search at the grocery store. You can also juice your own ginger for this recipe; just make sure to peel the ginger root before sending it into the juicer.

Now all you lemon lovers out there, don’t worry about losing out on your favorite ingredient. Our recipe’s fresh slice of lemon goes a long way to deliver that delightful squeeze of citrus this winter warmer is known for. Seriously, the final blast of hot water or tea expresses the lemony scent better than juice alone could muster. So without further ado, here’s how to make High West’s Hot Toddy.

Ingredients

For the honey syrup:
2 parts honey

1 part hot water

For the Hot Toddy (makes one):
1.5 oz High West Double Rye

1 oz honey syrup 

0.25 oz ginger juice

2 dashes Angostura bitters

4–5 oz hot water

Lemon wheel

Cinnamon stick

Instructions

Prepare the honey syrup.

Combine two parts honey and one part hot water. For a single cocktail, add 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of honey and 2 teaspoons of hot water to your mug and stir to combine.

If you’re serving a larger group, 4 ounces of honey plus 2 ounces of hot water yields enough honey syrup for six Hot Toddies.

Make the Hot Toddy.

1. Add Double Rye, honey syrup, ginger juice, and bitters to a mug.
2. Top with hot water and stir.
3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and lemon wheel.

Try this comfy concoction the next time the temperature drops below fifty. Or make a batch for the après after the après (we know, cheersing beers with your homies on the cafeteria deck is always a good reason to watch a sunset in the mountains). However you send it with this twist on a classic, we hope it warms your hands, heart, and soul. Have fun out there!

Words by Alli Wright, who joined the Backcountry Herd in 2022. A climber, trail runner, and backcountry skier, she can be found in a hammock with a book or planning a crafternoon when she’s not chasing vert. 

Recipe designed by Holly Booth, High West’s Lead Bartender. While she’s primarily a whiskey drinker, she loves their Mountain Gin, too.

Published November 3, 2025.

Pairs Well With Gear