Hot Buttered Whiskey

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/13/21
Hot Buttered Whiskey
Armstrong Studios / Photolibrary / Getty Images
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Refrigerate: 60 mins
Total: 90 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 drink

Nothing warms the body quite like a bit of whiskey on those cold winter nights. While Hot Buttered Rum is very popular, the spiced butter batter also works wonders with the right whiskey and this Hot Buttered Whiskey recipe is the perfect example.

This quick, easy to prepare spiced butter batter keeps well and is versatile with different whiskeys. From bourbon to rye whiskey, even a good Canadian blend, or your favorite scotch, you can easily spend half the winter finding your personal favorite. It's a tough job, but I'm sure you're up for it.

Preparing Hot Buttered Whiskey is a two-step process. First, you will prepare the batter and allow it to rest for about an hour. Once that is ready, you can simply pour a warm, soothing drink. The batter makes a total of 12 drinks and stores well for quite some time, so you can make a few batches throughout the winter and stay cozy until spring arrives.

Ingredients

For the Batter:

For the Drink:

  • 2 ounces whiskey

  • 1 ounce hot buttered batter

  • 3 to 4 ounces hot water, to taste

Steps to Make It

Prepare the Butter Batter

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Add all of the batter ingredients to a large bowl.

  3. Using a mixer with the paddle attachment, mix well for 1 to 2 minutes until all ingredients are incorporated.

  4. Turn the batter out onto a sheet of plastic wrap.

  5. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm.

Tips

Once your batter is complete, store it in an air-tight container the refrigerator and use an ounce at a time to mix up a Hot Buttered Whiskey whenever you like. It should keep well for several weeks. It is the perfect warm drink to relax with after a long day at work and with the batter all ready to go, it's as easy as warming up the tea kettle. 

To Make Hot Buttered Whiskey

Now that you have the batter, it's time to make the drink! This is the easy part and the point where your (not so) hard work pays off.

  1. Slice off a good dollop of the batter (about 1 ounce) and add it to a warmed mug or Irish coffee glass.

  2. Add the whiskey and fill with hot water.*

  3. Stir well.

  4. Serve and enjoy.

*How much water? You want to create a smooth, rich consistency and avoid watering down the drink. Most of the time, you will use 3 to 4 ounces of water and you don't need to fill the glass all the way (especially if using an over-sized coffee mug). Instead, begin with about twice as much water as whiskey, see how you like it, and adjust from there.

Which Whiskey to Choose?

You really won't know which whiskey you like best in the Hot Buttered Whiskey until you try them. Almost any whiskey will be good and many will be great. While you have the batter in the fridge, experiment with a few different brands and styles. There's sure to be one in your list of favorites that outshines all the others.

  • Try it with a sweeter bourbon if you like a softer, sweeter drink.

  • Bring out more spice notes with a high-proof bourbon or a great rye whiskey.

  • Looking for a super smooth taste? Opt for one of the great blended Canadian whiskies.

  • Follow the line of thought from the Irish Coffee recipe and pour Irish whiskey.

  • For an even more unusual twist, try a Hot Buttered Single Malt Scotch for a truly spectacular drink.

How Strong Is the Hot Buttered Whiskey?

With all these whiskey options as well as the unknown volume of water, we're going to have to do some serious estimating on the Hot Buttered Whiskey's alcohol content. To do so, let's assume that you pour an 80-proof whiskey and use just 3 ounces of hot water. This would make the drink somewhere in the neighborhood of 13 percent ABV (26 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
128 Calories
0g Fat
0g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 128
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 1mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)