The Mediterranean Spiced Toddy can be served hot and it is a wonderful way to help ease you during the cold winter nights!
Mastiha, the natural aromatic crystallized resin has been revered for its healing properties since time began and it is closely connected to the greek island of Chios. It was used in beauty products in antiquity, in the botanical studies of Dioscourides and Hippocrates’ medical treatments. The combination of mastiha with water is said to have begun four millennia ago in ancient Egypt, where people used this ingredient to purify drinking water and make it pleasant to drink. Mastiqua is such a naturally flavoured mastiha water, but still an innovative concept. It is a product of the distillation of pure mastiha, using steam, thus it brings all the unique and beneficial properties of mastiha to delicious. Mastiqua is now available in many supermarkets and gourmet stores and I thought that it would be a great challenge to create a hot cocktail with that. Finally, I came up with a hot Toddy cocktail, which is simple to make but interestingly delicious, really.
Mediterranean spiced medley
- 2 lt (6 × 330 ml bottles) Mastiqua Sparkling Drink
- 120 ml rich honey syrup (3 parts honey : 1 part water)
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 5 whole allspice berries
- 10 cloves
In a large saucepan combine mastiqua, honey and spices. Bring to a boil. Remove spices and use it immediately or let it cool and reheat when ready to serve. For each Mediterranean Spiced Toddy cocktail you are going to need:
- 150 ml mediterranean spiced medley (as described above)
- 45 ml bourbon whiskey
Serve in tempered glass mugs (which are able to withstand high temperature), stir gently and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Enjoy and get warm!