We are surrounded by some pretty incredible neighbors but with all of the acreage between our homes, you have to go out of your way to connect and to see one another. That is probably why we are all out here and I would guess that most of us out here like having that privacy. Can you say introverts unite? Each year we put together these hot toddy kits and our neighbors LOVE them! This has now become a tradition. Find something you love to give, others love to receive and don’t feel like you need to reinvent the giving wheel each year. Sharing appreciation for others around you shouldn’t stress you out.
When I was in Normandy, France for one of my Living Studio workshops, one of my favorite moments of the trip was when the chateau staff set up chairs, blankets and a roaring fire up a hill and path not far from the house. It was a cooler night and one of the workshop guests had asked the staff to bring up pots of hot toddies and desserts that she had purchased. I think it was just one of those perfect nights that you couldn’t recreate if you tried. Since that trip, I love a good hot toddy on cold nights or when I am under the weather. I knew hot toddy kits would make the perfect gifts for my sweet neighbors.
When I shared this on my Instagram account and my IG stories I had such a huge response that I wanted to share it here so you have a place to find the ingredients, recipe, and photos. Enjoy!
I start each kit with a round gift box from Target. I layer each box with crinkle paper that I buy in bulk from Uline but you can find it at Michaels or any craft store. Inside the boxes, I layer the whiskey, lemon, honey, cinnamon sticks and a fabric bag of whole cloves mixed with star anise. I purchase the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and star anise in the bulk section of our local grocery store. I wrap each box with ribbon, a bell, fresh pines from our yard and stop it off with the recipe.
Let me know if you put one together too!
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They look lovely! Do you order the honey and whiskey or do you get them locally?
I buy the small honey kits at the holidays from Trader Joes because we now create about 20 of these. The whiskey we purchase from our local stores (with Tin Cup or Bullet and they run around $15 for the size we buy).
“Won’t you be, won’t you be, won’t you be my neighbor?”
Such a personal, lovely tradition!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Fantastic idea and a special personal touch! Thanks for sharing! I’m inspired to do a variation.
Needless to say that little bottle of honey is so cute and I haven’t got a clue where to get them. The rest I think I can handle..wait, how about the little bags, where did you get those.? I love the whole idea, even here in Northeast Florida, we have cool nights, so I think they would make great gifts.
The little honeys are from Trader Joes. The little bags can be purchased from Amazon or your local craft store like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.
How do you know the portions of whole cloves and star anise to put in? How many cinnamon sticks do you normally include? I would have to order these spices online and would need to know what quantity. I think it makes a lovely and unique gift idea. Can you help me by answering some of these questions? Happy holidays to you and yours!
Awesome, Jeanne! What a gorgeous gift. Thank you! ❤️ (Where do you usually find your cute bells)?
Happy, Happy-
Sheila
Oops, I found the bells in the post that followed this one. Thank you! 😀❤️
Good ideas .
I love the wood burning fireplace. Do you know the brand? And I love the boxes!!!!
I did at one point! We purchased it through https://lehrerfireplacepatio.com/
This is a WONDERFUL idea! I can see it being done on a smaller scale too ~ mini bottles of bourbon, honey “sticks”… I’m so going to do this for my neighbors with cookies for the kids/non-drinkers. Thank you!
What a wonderful idea, thanks for sharing! I made these for a few gifts this year.
If I may, if I were sick, I’d want as few steps as possible, so I think I’ll make my gifts by putting the mulling spices into cheesecloth squares tied with twine. Would that work? Thank you!
Whatever you think would be easy for you and fun for the one that receives it!
They have mulling spice tea bags on Amazon