Remember that time your grandpa told you to take swig of whiskey if your throat ever hurt? Turns out he was right. Not only is it delicious, but its also a great decongestant.
For decades people have used the hot toddy as a natural remedy for easing all those aches and pains that are associated with the common cold, and for the most part, it was just assumed that it was one of those natural remedies, like chicken soup, that works because your brain thinks it works, not because there is actual science behind it. But as it turns out, a hot toddy is actually pretty great, from a scientific perspective, at soothing your cold.
Today, we're turning it up a notch and adding some apple cider and honey whiskey (hello, winter cocktail!) and calling it a day. Extra brownie points for those that drink it out of their mint julep cups!
Ingredients:
- 10 oz apple cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 8 whole cloves
- 1 1/2 Tbsp honey
- 4 oz honey whiskey, like American Honey
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
Directions:
- In a saucepot, combine apple cider, cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cover with a lid. Allow spices to steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain spices. Stir in honey to dissolve. Add whiskey and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Add more honey according to taste, if desired.
- Serve with sliced apples, sliced lemons, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.