There’s nothing like the combination of piping-hot spirit, citrus, sugar and water to warm the soul, especially as winter’s chill holds its steady grip. At Brooklyn’s The Shanty, a bar connected to the NY Distilling Company and co-founded by notable spirit expert Allen Katz, they bring a lighter, more aromatic approach to the traditional hot toddy, driven by Mister Katz’s Rock & Rye spirit.

Rock & Ryes, which are essentially bottled Old Fashioneds, have seen a resurgence in the past year. Allen Katz’s recipe macerates his NY State-sourced rye whiskey with dry bing cherries, orange peel from California, cinnamon bark and rock candy for a contemporary reprise of the Rock & Rye, which most people haven’t sipped in a bar in at least 75 years.

At 65 proof, the spirit almost becomes a modifier in cocktails, but with the heat of the toddy heightening the effects of the alcohol in the drink, the Rock & Rye balances nicely with honey and lemon while still providing overtones of oak, grain and cinnamon. Though some prefer their toddy with more robust, higher-proof spirits that lambast the senses, I think many would find Mister Katz’s more delicate take on this classic provides all the restoration one needs from the cold winter months. Enjoy.