The traditional hot toddy cocktail is simple to prepare, warm, and soothing, making it ideal for battling a cold. A sweet and spicy alternative is the apple cider hot toddy! Serve with Carrot Ginger Soup or make enough for a crowd with a cozy DIY cocktail bar with Instant Pot Glhwein and Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Bombs.

Who has experienced their first cold of the season? [A hand is raised]

My spouse became ill, and each passing day was like witnessing a ticking time bomb. I knew it was just a matter of time, no matter how often we both cleaned our hands, how much I sterilized everything he touched, and how long we slept in separate rooms (it’s a quarantine scenario once the sniffles arrive, my friends).

I hope you haven’t acquired a cold yet, but if you have, I have the ultimate cold-fighting cocktail comfort for you: hot toddies.

Apple cider hot toddies, to be exact. Toddies made from apple cider? Whiskey and hot cider? They are magnificent, whatever we name them.

Are hot toddies really good for colds?

You’ve certainly heard that hot toddies are good for you when you’re ill, but have you ever pondered why?

• The traditional approach includes the use of whiskey, which has anti-infective effects. It will also help you sleep better and work as a decongestant, which are my major aims when I’m all sad and snuggled up in a blanket with the sniffles.
• Honey contains anti-inflammatory effects and may help ease your sore throat from all of that coughing.
• Lemon provides potent antioxidants that strengthen your immune system, and you need all the help you can get while you’re laying in bed.

Oh, and P.S. : Drinking more than one does not quadruple the cold-busting power, so take it easy and limit yourself to one.

Ingredients for hot toddies

• cup hot but not boiling water
• 1 oz. brandy (may be substituted with whiskey)
• 1 oz. fresh apple cider
• 1 oz. lemon juice, to taste
• 1 to 3 tablespoons whiskey, to taste
• For garnish, use an apple slice, a lemon slice, a cinnamon stick, or star anise (optional)

How to juice a lemon

Speaking of lemons, here’s my favorite method for extracting every last drop of that sour citrus liquid.

Begin by rolling the lemon back and forth on the counter, putting strong pressure with your palm. This will assist in breaking it down and making it simpler to juice!

You may also microwave the lemon for 10 seconds for the same effect; just don’t heat it to the point of steaming or you’ll lose part of the juice you’ve worked so hard to get!

1. Cut your lemon in half across the centre.
2. Take one of the pieces and cut a little piece off the other end.
3. You don’t need to remove a large portion, just enough to expose the yellow flesh.
4. Put it in a lemon juicer, broader side down, then push the top down and squeeze as hard as you can over a container of some kind. Don’t simply squirt lemon juice all over your counter; unless you’re cleaning, then just add a little baking soda and you’re off to the races.

How do you make a hot toddy for a cold?

Making a hot toddy couldn’t be simpler, and I don’t know about you, but when I’m ill, I want whatever is the fastest and simplest thing to prepare so I can return to my blanket and tissue-covered sofa.

You just need four ingredients and a cup to make this drink:

• warm water
• lime juice
• honey
• whisky or brandy of your choosing (or even bourbon)

My favorite method to prepare a hot toddy, though, is to add one extra ingredient: one ounce of fresh apple cider. It provides a sweet and spicy taste and ups the comfort factor.

Top with a cinnamon stick and an apple or lemon slice (why not both?) and start sipping.

I swear that simply holding an apple cider hot toddy makes me feel better.