Hot Apple Toddy

Ingredients

• 3 large baking apples
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 quart boiling water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 quarts apple juice
• 2 quarts Irish whiskey
• 2 cups Jamaican rum
• 3 lemon rinds cut in long spirals
• 50 whole cloves
• 1 (4-inch) stick cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

Preparation

1. Core apples; peel top third of each. Place apples in a shallow baking dish; add 1/2 cup water. Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until apples are tender, basting occasionally.
2. Place baked apples in a large stainless steel stock pot. Add 1 quart boiling water and sugar. Simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add apple juice, whiskey, and rum to mixture; stir well, and simmer, uncovered, 1 hour.
4. Stir in lemon rind, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg; simmer, uncovered, an additional hour. Remove whole spices, and discard. Serve hot in warm serving cups.