My kind of medicine
I always thought a hot toddy was one of those backwoods cures that worked as well as snake oil and tasted about the same. Until I made one while suffering a sore throat and chest cold.
Usually, I just add honey and lemon to some hot tea and call it a day. A couple of people had recommended I try a hot toddy and I figured why not. Not only does it taste really good, but the combination of the brandy, lemon and honey really cleared my sinuses, soothed my throat and gave me a nice buzz to make feeling sick a little more tolerable.
Hot Toddy
- 2 ounces brandy
- 1/2 lemon
- 2 tbsp honey
- hot water
Squeeze lemon into a large mug and add the honey and brandy. Stir well to dissolve honey, then fill mug with hot water. Drink and repeat until you feel better or pass out.
Disclaimer: The Rufus Guide should not be used as a substitute for sound medical advice. If you are nursing, pregnant, about to be pregnant, or even just thinking about being pregnant don’t even look at a hot toddy. Also, don’t go within five yards of one or anyone who has had one within the last 24 hours. Do not operate heavy machinery within four days of drinking a hot toddy. If swelling occurs or symptoms worsen see your doctor. Side effects may include dizziness, intoxication, clouded vision, poor memory, loss of rhythm and bad breath. If any of these occur, have another hot toddy.
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide 
Where was this recipe when I was sick in November??? All I had was nyquil, which btw tastes remarkably like Jagermeister. Hated nyquil as a kid, but I love it (and jager) as an adult… Great posts recently!
Greg, I am so sorry to hear that you are sick, but your humor is still there… love your disclaminer… have another and go to bed. Feel better soon….RaeDi
Nice disclaimer 😉 Hope you feel better!
A hot toddy works each and every time! Hope you feel better soon! No worries about a lawsuit with your disclaimer! Hilarious!
Love that disclaimer ! Get better soon – or just keep drinking hot toddys !
LOL I like the disclaimer. I’ve never tried a hot toddy, but it sounds good!
Where were you when I was sick Monday morning?! I actually made one but used lemon green tea and stirred it with a cinnamon stick for extra healing power. Wish I’d read that disclaimer first though… 🙂
Feel better soon!
i love a hot toddy! I like to make them using a nice bourbon or laird’s apple brandy as a base, plus a bit of allspice dram or cinnamon syrup.
A little repetitious but you know what i am going to say….
Terrific disclaimer!
Cheers.
I wish all disclaimers read that well! I’ve always had toddies with whisky, but brandy sounds better…and more conducive to a second (or third) dose of medication, if needed. Hope it’s working and you are on the mend.
I’m just wondering if you have to be sick to have one 😉
Nice disclaimer.
Nothing like a Hot Toddy . . . for medicinal purposes, of course. Feel better!
Ahh! You’re a medical genius! Makes me wish I was sick so I could whip one up myself.
Now *that* is good medicine! I hope it does the trick for you, and fast. My sister’s doctor prescribed the simpler version to her, calling it the Two Hats Cure:
1-Place a hat on the foot of the bed.
2-Get in the bed with a bottle of whiskey.
3-Drink whiskey until there are two hats on the foot of the bed.
Your toddy sounds more comforting!
Bloody brilliant.
Oh man! Where was this recipe in November. 😉 Seriously though, I hope you feel better. I’m printing this off and marking it for next time I have a cold – and knowing my kids they’ll be bringing something home to share in no time. Fortunately I now happen to have a bottle of brandy on hand thanks to Linda. 😉
*Love* the disclaimer. 🙂 Feel better soon!!
Oh I love a hot toddy.. but the virgin one. Yes there is a virgin one. I love this. And the disclaimer sounds like a Cialis commercial LMAO.. it just does. Love it
We sat in side by side bathtubs watching repeats of Cailis commercials to get the wording just right.
nothing is worse than a sore throat! I always stir my hot toddy with a cinnamon stick. Did you know that you should buy honey from hives as close to your house as possible? Hope you are all better, and love the disclaimer 🙂
That honey is from the town we live in. We’ve heard that, something to do with the pollen. We mainly get it because it’s so good and we can grab it at the local farmers market.
I’ll take a good hot toddy over NyQuil anytime. I hope you’re feeling better real soon.
I add cinnamon, cloves, ginger, etc to bring up the congestion too. Have used hot toddys for years.
The spice sounds great!
Great idea I’m going to add the ginger at very least. 🙂
Last bit of your disclaimer takes care of everything!
🙂 Mandy
I like hot toddies when I don’t have a cold 🙂
Love the disclaimer! And it´s almost worth having a cold to enjoy the hot toddy. Usually make mine with whisky (or whikee as they say in Andalucia!) but Brandy sounds even more medicinal…in a good way 🙂
Love this! Much better than NyQuil. I’ll start keeping a bottle of brandy in the medicine cabinet.
Yep….This is our home remedy for fighting cold. Great post..
I’ve been thinking about hot toddies lately. Nice to see a post on one. I will try it the next time I’m feeling poorly.
Hubby made me one of these the last time I got sick…I wasn’t sure if it really helped, or just knocked me out so I didn’t care…
Either way, it’s all good.
How did you know I developed a full-blown cold yesterday? Now I know what I’m having tonight and I will try to remember to look for any signs of side effects. 🙂
This was my mother’s cure for the common cold! This and warm wine! I never heard of Nyquil or any other cold medicine when I was younger, and even today, I revert back to my comfort, feel better remedies!!
I am sorry to hear that you got sick. But this is a wonderful remedy, I am sure it would be so good for you. Get well soon. Thank you, with my love, nia
Interesting and amusing disclaimer, lol! For those weary of the side effects of a hot toddy a hot lemon is a good virgin substitute!
My wife loves hot tea with honey and lemon when she’s sick.
Your disclaimer is hysterical. So many people are not feeling well…there may be a run on brandy any day. Here’s to feeling better.
I absolutely agree! I actually had a terrible reaction to Nyquil one day, and the next evening made a hot toddy. It worked much better! I’ve been a convert ever since!
Thanks for making me laugh Greg. Hope you feel better soon.
Love the advice! Are you under the weather? Must have missed it during all the travelling – feel better soon! Hot toddies and sugared lemons (another backwood cure that I swear works – just eat sliced lemons sprinkled with sugar, to help with a sore throat).
I’m much better, just had a cold. My lips pucker just thinking of that lemon trick, will have to try.
Your post is hilarious! I loved reading it. Hot toddy looks almost like the rum tea I make when I have a throat ache, fever or anything similar. It’s always a perfect cure or at least makes me forget how ill I am 😉
You are hilarious! Hope you’re feeling better NOW! My Dad always made a hot toddy if he felt bad or gave me one even when I was young. His next step was a long HOT-STEAMY bath. Between the steam, alcohol, honey and lemon we were better right away.
Mmmm sounds delicious whether you are sick or not! I hope you feel better soon!
Ha!!! I love your disclaimer!! I have never had a hot toddy before. I do have all the ingredients though, hmmm, maybe my throat is feeling a little sore! 😉
lol! Love hot toddies- we use them around here for all sorts of maladies.
This is the only remedy that works!. Sometimes I use rum. Had an au pair that kept making them for me 24 hrs. a day until I was well. I believe it was the only reason I could sleep (I mean pass out). Feel better.
Nice action shot in your photo. And your disclaimer absolutely made me smile. 🙂
I could use one of these right now! Somehow managed to get sick…again. Argh!
Your disclaimer had the hubs and I laughing out loud.
Besides liking this post, I think my favorite is the disclaimer. Lol.
Love the disclaimer, too! My folks thought a hot toddy was a cure for anything. Maybe, it was just an excuse to drink one??? I do think they work on colds to make your throat feel better or maybe they make you think you feel better. lol
How come you didn’t post this five days ago? I could have really used it then. Well regardless of whether I’m feeling bad or good right now I’m drinking it.
“If any of these occur, have another hot toddy.” – ha! 😀
I’m a big fan of toddys. I find they don’t do that much to myself, although do offer a bit of brief respite when one is feeling crappy, and sometimes that’s all that’s needed to snuggle down and sleep off a bit of cold for a bit. My wife hates them with a passion – seeing her face when she takes a sip is priceless 😀
I love the disclaimer!
I’ve been wanting to make one of these! Hope you’re feeling better and awesome disclaimer. Which reminds me…I always find it weird how women’s public restrooms often have warnings against drinking while pregnant, at least in Texas anyway. Maybe they think we might reconsider pulling out our flasks while waiting in line.
Reblogged this on Ariel’s Blog.
I love to make a variation of the hot toddy with peppermint tea, 2 oz of bourbon, and a teaspoon of brown sugar. Tastes like a hot mint julep, and is certainly good for what ails ya!
My mom used to make these for us when we were kids – can’t be any worse than Nyquil. I love to order one of these or a Chip Shot when I’m out at a bar and not feeling too hot. Either will unstuff your head 😉
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This might be my favorite post ever. I can’t wait to get sick now. Or have a party. Or a rough night. Or come in from shoveling snow feeling a little chilled. So many reasons to celebrate!
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