Whiskey With Wes: Blue Blazer Hot Toddy [VIDEO]

Today, on Whiskey with Wes, let’s talk about a very old, classic, super cool drink for all you serious whiskey lovers out there. This Blue Blazer Hot Toddy has it all: scotch, rum, bonded bourbon, and most important of all, fire! You’ve probably muddled some fruit and sugar, maybe done some fancy shaking and pouring, maybe even sabered a Champagne bottle, but I would bet good money you still haven’t poured liquid flame!

Well, after following along with this week’s video you can add that to your list of accomplishments.

The Blue Blazer was first featured in the Jerry Thomas’ 1862 cocktail book “How To Mix Drinks: Or, The Bon Vivant’s Companion,” and as far as we know, Jerry Thomas invented the drink.  In fact, the most well known image of Jerry shows him “throwing” his Blue Blazer back and forth, rolling it from one mug to another to caramelize all those delicious sugars!

A by-the-book Blue Blazer calls for cask-strength Scotch, but I believe in taking cocktails to the next level. Here, I’ve elevated the drink with the addition of my good friend bonded bourbon and a pretty funky navy-strength rum. You are going to need some special equipment for this one: two mugs for pouring and mixing the cocktail and, of course, something with which to set it ablaze.  Be careful, this one is pretty fiery – don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Blue Blazer Hot Toddy

• Add these ingredients into one Blue Blazer mug:
  • 1 oz Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bourbon
  • 1 oz Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum
  • 1 tsp (approximately 1/4 oz) Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch
• Add these ingredients into the other mug:
  • 2 oz boiling water
  • 1 tsp sugar
• Light the alcohol on fire, add a small amount of hot water into that mug, and starting with the flaming alcohol, begin to pour the liquid back and forth between the two mugs until everything is nice and hot and the sugar is slightly caramelized (about 15-20 seconds)
• Extinguish the fire by clamping one empty mug on top of the other
• Pour into a toddy glass and garnish with a lemon twist

Best of luck (and enjoy)!

-Wes