Hot Toddy Recipe for Cold (How to Make a Hot Toddy VIDEO) (2024)

Hot Toddy Recipe for Cold (How to Make a Hot Toddy VIDEO) (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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A Hot Toddy is great on any cold night, but I especially love this hot toddy recipe to soothe a cold. This warm co*cktail is my go-to recipe when I’m under the weather with a nasty cough. A homemade cure for a common cold that’s easy to make and much tastier than cough syrup! Once you learn how to make a hot toddy, you’ll be able to soothe your cold in no time!

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Table of Contents

Why We Love This Hot Toddy Recipe

This classic winter drink recipe is the perfect warm sip to soothe a sore throat, cough, or cold. Forget the usual hot lemon water–this drink adds whiskey, honey, and ginger into the mix for a co*cktail you can enjoy on sick days. I love sitting with this co*cktail under a cozy blanket on a chilly night.

  • Easy. Just heat up your liquids, mix in the other ingredients, and you’ll have a warm drink ready to sip. 5 ingredients, 5 minutes, and a microwave are all you need!
  • Soothing. Whiskey is a great decongestant, honey has antimicrobial properties, lemon juice boosts immunity, and ginger reduces inflammation.
  • Tasty. This adult bevvy is a little sweet, a little zesty, and a whole lot delicious.

Variations on a Hot Toddy

If you don’t have any whiskey on hand, or you want to make this tasty cold remedy for someone under 21, you can still make a version of this drink without alcohol. Simply leave it out, and combine the rest of the ingredients as directed.

A nice glass of hot lemon honey water will still do wonders when you’re feeling under the weather. You can also try using hot tea in place of the whiskey, which many readers have recommended!

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Hot Toddy Recipe for Cold (How to Make a Hot Toddy VIDEO) (4)

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How to Store

This recipe is for one hot toddy, but if you don’t finish the whole glass, you can store leftovers in the fridge. Just be sure to heat it up and give it a good stir before drinking the rest.

Serving Suggestions

If you need some other recipes to help you get through your sick day, I’ve got you covered. Make a pot of chicken noodle soup or turkey noodle soup, chicken broth, or a delicious bowl of ramen. If you prefer a different drink, try this detox lemonade for more health benefits.

What is a hot toddy?

A classic hot toddy is a warm drink made with whiskey, along with other ingredients like honey, water, and lemon. It’s commonly served as a cold remedy to help relieve symptoms, like coughs, congestion, sore or scratchy throats, and inflammation.

Is a hot toddy a good cold remedy?

It’s the best (non-medical) cold remedy I know! The warmth of the drink plus the health benefits of the ingredients (as listed above) can really soothe your sore throat & cough symptoms. There is some research that says hot drinks help the common cold or flu by increasing air flow.

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More Hot Toddy Recipes

  • Apple Cider Hot Toddy
  • Caramel Apple Hot Toddy co*cktail

5-Star Review

“The tastiest, easiest and most effective hot toddy yet!” – Tracy

Recipe

Hot Toddy Recipe for a Cold

4.60 from 461 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Total: 5 minutes minutes

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Your winter cold calls for a warm and comforting Hot Toddy! Made with honey, lemon, ginger, and bourbon or whiskey if you please, this drink is sure to make you feel better.

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

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Ingredients

  • 2 ounces whiskey or bourbon Get some pretty good quality. You’re sick! You deserve the best!
  • tablespoons honey
  • 4 ounces water
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 cube crystallized ginger optional
  • 1 slice fresh lemon for garnish

Instructions

  • Mix together whiskey, water, and lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl.

    2 ounces whiskey or bourbon, 4 ounces water, 2 teaspoons lemon juice

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  • Microwave for 1 minute, or until it's piping hot.

  • Stir in the honey, and drop in the ginger if using.

    1½ tablespoons honey, 1 cube crystallized ginger

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  • Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy–you and your cold deserve it!

    1 slice fresh lemon

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 242kcal (12%) Carbohydrates: 27g (9%) Sodium: 7mg Sugar: 26g (29%) Vitamin C: 3.9mg (5%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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How to Make A Hot Toddy Step by Step

Make the Drink: Mix together 2 ounces of whiskey or bourbon, 4 ounces of water, and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, or until it’s piping hot.

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Garnish the Drink: Stir in 1½ tablespoons of honey, and drop in 1 cube of crystallized ginger if using. Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy– you and your cold deserve it!

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Hot Toddy Recipe for Cold (How to Make a Hot Toddy VIDEO) (2024)

FAQs

How to make a hot for a cough? ›

A hot toddy is a home remedy made from common household ingredients to treat the symptoms of cold and flu. The ingredients are warmed and ingested as a drink to help with sore throat pain, runny nose, and cough. The ingredients for a hot toddy are a combination of lemon or lemon juice, honey, and hot water.

Does a hot toddy actually help a cold? ›

Can Hot Toddies Really Cure Colds? While Hot Toddies have been used for generations as a natural way to combat cold symptoms, there is no definite research to prove that they can replace that bottle of cold medicine once and for all. They do, however, certainly provide comfort.

What tea is good for hot toddy? ›

You can use whatever tea you want for a hot toddy, and any full-bodied, flavorful tea that can stand up well to the strong flavors of spirits and lemon is a good option.

Which whiskey is best for a cold? ›

Irish whiskey, known for its gentle, fruity notes, or wheated bourbons like Maker's Mark, which are milder and sweeter, are ideal choices. These types of whiskey, combined with honey's natural soothing properties and lemon's refreshing tang, create a hot toddy that's both comforting and kind to a sore throat.

Can hot toddies get you drunk? ›

The hot toddy is not one of those drinks that you down simply to get drunk. It is more of an experience and a way to relax, so its alcohol content may be irrelevant for the most part. However, for the curious drinker, you can expect it to weigh in around 6 percent ABV (12 proof).

How many hot toddies should I drink a day? ›

Furthermore, there's evidence that suggests drinking two hot toddies per day can help relieve cold symptoms such as sore throats and congestion when paired with restful sleep.

What is a cowboy cure for a cough? ›

#2 Cowboy cure for a cough

Honey, whiskey, and lemon added to your hot cup of coffee (or tea) works like a charm to cure that pesky cough.

What is the fastest way to stop coughing? ›

Here are 10 ways to stop coughing naturally:
  1. Drink plenty of water. ...
  2. Eat a spoonful of honey. ...
  3. Have some herbal tea. ...
  4. Gargle some salt water. ...
  5. Eat a slice of pineapple. ...
  6. Reduce inflammation with ginger. ...
  7. Have a warm turmeric drink. ...
  8. Add probiotics to your diet.
Jul 18, 2023

How to remove a cough fast? ›

Natural Cough Remedies
  1. Honey. 1/12. A teaspoon or two of honey may cut mucus production. ...
  2. Hot Drinks. 2/12. Hot drinks won't ease a stuffy head, but they can soothe a cough much better than room temperature drinks. ...
  3. Ginger. 3/12. ...
  4. Water. 4/12. ...
  5. Steam. 5/12. ...
  6. Neti Pot. 6/12. ...
  7. Elderberry. 7/12. ...
  8. Menthol. 8/12.
Aug 28, 2023

Does hot toddy break up mucus? ›

And it turns out that the core ingredients in a Hot Toddy — whiskey, hot water, honey, and lemon — do pretty much the same thing. A great decongestant, the alcohol in whiskey dilates the blood vessels, making it easier for your mucus membranes to deal with the infection.

Can you drink hot toddy everyday? ›

Best consumed in small doses and infrequently, Hot Toddies can only be served as as medicine to those 21 and over, should not replace a medical professional's advice, and are best followed by a tall glass of water, some herbal tea, and plenty of rest and TLC.

Which alcohol is good for a cold? ›

Yes, whiskey can be good for a cold because it's a decongestant. Being sick means your nasal tissues have become inflamed, which causes a lot of difficulty when breathing. Though it's common to believe that excess mucus is what causes congestion, this is actually not the case.

What's the difference between a hot toddy and a hot whiskey? ›

A hot toddy, also known as hot whiskey in Ireland, and occasionally called southern cough syrup within the Southern United States, is typically a mixed drink made of liquor and water with honey (or in some recipes, sugar), lemon, herbs (such as tea) and spices, and served hot.

What alcohol is good for a cold and cough? ›

Mulled wine ranks among the best drinks for soothing sore throat and cough. Red wine with oranges or lemons, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, cardamom, or honey is warmed to serve as a remedy against cold.

What does a hot toddy do to your body? ›

The alcohol can help clear mucus by dilating blood vessels in the upper body. The steam from the hot water might also help to clear congestion. Whiskey might also cause drowsiness, helping you to get more rest.

References

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