Hot Toddies at Nepenthe

Guide books claim that a trip to Big Sur without a stop at Nepenthe, the original location of a cabin Orson Welles purchased for Rita Hayworth, is a big cultural miss, so we stopped. And were happy we did. The sunset, which we had hoped to catch, was shrouded in clouds, but the southern views of the Santa Lucia Mountains dipping into the Pacific were breathtaking. While diners and drinkers warmed up by the indoor fire pit we braved the cold with hot toddies in hand in order to take in the spectacular fog-draped views. The hot toddy is a new favorite, and with the current chill in the air, less unseasonal than you'd think.

Hot Toddy (from drinkmixer.com)

1 tbsp honey
3/4 glass tea
2 shots brandy
1 slice lemon

Brew tea and fill a tall glass 3/4 full. Mix in honey. Mix in brandy shots. Add lemon slice and enjoy.

FoodStorm note: I believe Nepenthe's Hot Toddy is made with hot water in place of tea, which will work just fine. And, the bartender pressed 1/2 lemon into the drink, making it nice and tart...a true tonic!