Feeling Sick? Drink This...
Today is National Hot Toddy Day, smack in the middle of cold and flu season, ironic...we think not. Throughout history, we have seen alcohol used for many different reasons, but one of its first uses was as a medicine. Yes, that's right! If you didn’t feel good, alcohol was your prescription, even babies were given a little dose when they were teething or couldn’t sleep. There is actually some scientific evidence to support this, doctors suggest that, “...alcohol dilates blood vessels a little bit, and that makes it easier for your mucus membranes to deal with the infections.” With cold and flu season at record highs this year we thought we would do some research and find some useful recipes to help you treat your symptoms a little more holistically. These concoctions have survived the test of time and have been proven to alleviate and assist in recovery.
The Classic Hot Toddy
This classic recipe is the most popular choice on our list.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Boiling water
- 1 1/2 oz. Whiskey
- 1 tsp. Brown Sugar or Honey
- 4 Cloves
- 2 oz. Lemon Juice
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
How to Make:
Pour the boiling water, whiskey, and brown sugar or honey into a heat-resistant glass or mug, add the cloves, lemon juice, and stir with the cinnamon stick. Let it stand for 5 minutes so the ingredients can get to know each other and then you are on your way to feeling better.
Horse's Neck
This classic cocktail can be made with bourbon or brandy and recognized by its trademark whole lemon peel garnish.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Bourbon or Brandy
- 2 Dashes of Bitters
- 1 Whole Peel of a Lemon (keep in one piece)
- 4 oz Ginger beer
How to Make:
Combine your choice of bourbon or brandy with bitters and the lemon peel in a glass filled with ice, top the drink off with ginger beer and stir to combine.
Bourbon Cocktail
This is just your traditional ingredients to assist in the recovery of any common cold or flu spiked with some good old bourbon.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Bourbon Whiskey
- 2 oz. Lemon Juice
- 2-4 oz. Water (optional-you can just shoot it like medicine)
- 1tbsp. Honey
How to Make:
Mix the bourbon, lemon juice, water (if using), and honey in a saucepan and heat on the stove top until there is a light simmer. Pour into a mug or shot glass (let stand for 5 minutes) and enjoy the soothing liquid as it flows through your sick body.
Whiskey Chai
The Chai Spice blend will awaken and soothes your senses, this is like a doctored hot tea with a serious kick.
Ingredients:
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 20 Black Peppercorns
- 16 Whole Cloves
- 8 Cardamom Pods
- 1 tsp. Ground Giner
- Pinch of Grated Nutmeg
- 1 qt. Whole Milk
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tbsp. Black Tea
- 3 oz. Rye Whiskey
How to Make:
Combine all the spices and mix them in a spice grinder until it has a powder consistency, in a saucepan bring the milk to a simmer and add the spice mixture, sugar, and tea, let it stand for 10 minutes, strain the concoction into bowl and then back into the saucepan, return to stovetop add the whiskey and heat for a couple more minutes, pour the warm mixture into a mug and enjoy.
Those are the top four recipes that are sure to help you find yourself on the mend this cold and flu season. We think these tastes much better than any cough syrup or liquid cold medicine you get at your local drug store and they will make you relax and allow your boy to start healing itself. Try to stay healthy this winter season.
Cheers!