The Ultimate Hot Toddy Recipe with Whisky for Soothing a Stubborn Cold

Today, we're going to talk about making a hot toddy. A perfect cocktail for when you're battling a cold or possibly the flu.

It's that time of the year again: you've caught a cold, or maybe you are under the weather (oh no, get well soon!). It may not sound like obvious advice, but a hot toddy recipe could just do the trick. This involves warm whisky. We can almost hear you think: what? Read on and find out more.

The hot toddy is also known as hot whisky, and in Scotland and Ireland, this drink doesn't raise too many eyebrows. The recipe is quite an old one. A hot toddy is a mix of whisky, hot water, some honey, and specific spices. How exactly the drink is prepared varies quite a bit from one recipe to the next. There are several different hot toddys floating around the internet.

It's said to be crafted from the fermented sap of palm trees. But does it really work? Is it a miracle cure, let alone healthy? Though the common belief is that alcohol kills all bacteria, illness, and alcohol usually aren't a great mix. What we can say is that a hot drink with honey and specific spices can at times relieve a sore throat. Whether or not it needs whisky is up for debate.

With that said, let's get to the recipe. How exactly do you make a hot toddy? Here is what you'll need:

These are the basic ingredients that you'll mix together. Some people add cloves or brown sugar, but the above is generally enough. If you're not using it against a cold, but rather serving it as a fun winter cocktail to warm up friends or family, you can garnish the drink with lemon slices.