Hot Whiskey

The story

Hot whiskey (whiskey, cloves, a slice of lemon and a spoonful of honey or sugar, topped with boiling water) is one of Ireland's oldest winter drinks. Long before Irish coffee became known beyond the country, it was the standard drink for welcoming guests on chilly holiday evenings. The cloves stuck into the lemon slice are not just decoration. They release their aroma in the hot water, and the clove-studded lemon slice is part of every glass handed to adults joining the holiday gathering. Unlike Irish coffee, which became an international attraction, hot whiskey has remained a humbler, everyday drink, made one glass at a time with water straight from the kettle as guests come in from the cold. Many Irish families in America think of hot whiskey as a "secret" recipe their neighbors don't know.