Cozy up the Boston way with a Ward 8 Toddy.
The Ward 8 is a tart cocktail with a bit of a sour past. In Boston’s eighth ward in the late 1800s, the Ward 8 was invented under a bit of duress. Technically speaking, the Ward 8 was created by a bartender at the Locke-Ober Cafe to celebrate the re-election win for Martin Lomasney. As a politician, Martin Lomasney was known as an advocate for the working class and a political force within the West End. As a person, Martin Lomasney was known as the former leader of an Irish street gang who frequently bribed, blackmailed, and beat any opposing candidates. But hey – we’re all complex people, right?
While it is true that a bartender created the Ward 8 on election night, the rumors say he was less “inspired” to make it and more “forced and threatened” to make it. Either way, the Ward 8 remains Boston’s biggest contribution to the whiskey world. And even though the Ward 8 is best suited for warmer months, no one needs a cozy winter drink quite like Boston. The Ward 8 Toddy packs in all of the puckery power of the traditional Ward 8 with the coziness of a Hot Toddy. Together, you have a warm drink that’ll ward off any winter blues.
Ward 8 Toddy
Equipment
- 1 Toddy Mug
Ingredients
- ¾ Water
- 2 ounces Rye Whiskey
- ½ ounce Oleo-Saccharum
- 2 tsps Pomegranate Juice
- 1 twist Lemon (garnish)
Oleo-Saccharum
- 1 Orange (zest)
- 2 Lemon (zest)
- ½ cup Sugar
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring ¾ ounce of water to a low simmer.
- Add in 2 ounces of Rye Whiskey, ½ ounce of Oleo-Saccharum, and 2 teaspoons of pomegranate juice.
- Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Strain into a toddy mug.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Oleo-Saccharum
- In a large container, add the entire zest from 1 orange and the entire zest from 2 lemons with ½ cup of sugar.
- Gently muddle the citrus zests to release the oils into the sugar.
- Cover the container and let it rest for at least 8 hours.
