Hot Toddy with Bae

There’s something quietly grounding about setting everything out before the cold really settles in—like preparing a small ritual against winter.

On the tray: two empty glass mugs waiting to be warmed, a bright cut of lemon, cinnamon sticks, a few cloves, and star anise—sharp little reminders that comfort has edges. Beside it all sits the whisky, and in the reflection of the kettle you can almost see the room gathering itself: countertop, light, the soft blur of a home being lived in.

A hot toddy doesn’t need much. It’s not complicated, and that’s part of the point. You boil the water, let the steam fill the space, and measure the whisky without overthinking it. Add lemon for clarity. Add spice for depth. Honey if you want it gentler. Then you hand a mug to the person next to you and feel the day loosen its grip.

“Hot Toddy with Bae” is a simple title, but it holds the whole scene: the shared warmth, the small pause from whatever’s outside the windows, the way winter makes even ordinary moments feel a little more deliberate.

If you’re reading this with cold hands, take it as permission—set out the tray, heat the kettle, and make something that warms the air as much as it warms you.