How to make a Hot Toddy recipe. This is the best Hot Toddy Recipe and Grandma’s secret home remedy for colds. When it comes to nasty winter colds and coughs I haven’t found anything that works as well or as fast as this Hot Toddy Recipe! The Hot Toddy, or warm whiskey, is a classic recipe that has been around for generations. The medicinal drink is said to have originated in Scotland as early as the 1700s. Before store-bought and over-the-counter medicines were readily available, people sipped on a warm Hot Toddy to fight colds and respiratory ailments. And before you fret about the whiskey remember that drug store cough and cold syrups have alcohol in them plus a bunch of other things I can’t pronounce. I can also tell you that doctors were proscribing whiskey for coughs and colds long before pharmacy medications.
But I am not a doctor, so this recipe should be used at your own discretion.
How To Make A Hot Toddy Recipe
Why The Hot Toddy Recipe Works
Why does this Hot Toddy recipe work so well to fight coughs and colds? Well here’s what I found:
- Whiskey works as a powerful decongestant; the alcohol dilates your blood vessels and helps the body to fight congestion. It also is relaxing which will help you rest. The whiskey will aid your body in fighting off infection and the growth of microorganisms! Don’t go overboard on the whiskey, a little goes a long way.
- Honey is an antioxidant and has both antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Honey can soothe and relax a sore and scratchy throat and quiet a cough. A good quality, locally sourced, honey is best!
- Lemon are an amazing source of vitamin C and added to a hot drink can aid in reducing and loosening phlegm.
- Hot tea soothes the throat, loosens phlegm in the chest and nose making it easier to blow and cough it all out.
- Adding a bit of ginger can soothe a queasy tummy or cinnamon to add a bit more flavor.
How to Make an Old Fashioned Hot Toddy Recipe
This will make one serving and it is best to make this as needed. I do not recommend using a microwave to heat anything, especially honey, because you’ll be killing off the good stuff!I use a standard stove-top tea kettle.
Old Fashioned Hot Toddy Recipe - Grandma's Home Remedy
Ingredients
- 1 cup of hot tea you can really use any good organic tea but it is best to use a decaffeinated tea so you can rest
- 1 - 2 tablespoons of whiskey we use Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey but any quality brand will do
- 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice straight from the lemon
- 2 tablespoons of honey raw is best but any is fine as long as honey is the only ingredient
- 1 pinch of ground ginger or cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Brew your tea and let it steep for 7 - 10 minutes
- Add 1 - 2 tablespoons of whiskey and stir
- Add in the 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice and stir
- Lastly add in your 2 tablespoons of honey (you can add more if it isn't sweet enough) and give it a good stir until the honey disappears into the liquid
- Optional add in a pinch of ground ginger or cinnamon
- Serve immediately - it should still be hot.
Serve with a wedge a lemon
- You can enjoy a Hot Toddy Home Remedy 2 - 3 times a day and you'll be amazed at how quickly it works.
Legally speaking this Hot Toddy Recipe is for adults only. It has been prescribed for under 21 for years but that is at your discretion and I assume no responsibly for its use in adults or otherwise.
If you’re not comfortable with a Hot Toddy check out my grandmother’s natural cough syrup recipe – it can work wonders too!
So, THIS brought back a very happy memory. I was about 10 & had a bad cold. My mom sat me in front of the gas oven, door open, and plied me with a hot toddy, cold fried chicken and cherry pie, while she cooked diner for the others.
It’s my very favorite memory of us together. I have no idea if there was really whiskey in it but she said there was and that was enough for me!
So thanks!
This worked great! I used a peach ginger boost tea from tetley. I had 2 Monday and fealt great next day. So had another to make sure! Tastes sooo good!😁
Ohhh peach tea would make a nice change to the recipe. It is amazing how fast this works! Glad you’re feeling better!
I love this recipe! My grandmother always made us a hot toddy when we were sick! Thank you!
That’s where I learned how to make them too. 😀
I actually did have a doctor prescribe hot toddy for my congestion. I had asthma a lot as a child in the ’50’s so much so that I missed school a fair amount. I would even be hospitalized once or twice a season. Our family doctor, the same one who delivered me, told my grandmother to fix me a hot toddy whenever an attack was coming on. My grandparents were strictly teetotalers and very religious, so this was a bit of a conundrum for them. Finally, an uncle who did drink offered to share some whiskey with us. He filled a medicine bottle and we used it as needed. Worked very well. I’ve also used hot lemonade with honey without whiskey for myself and the kids whenever we have a cold or sore throat. Works almost as well. Few OTC medications work as well as either.
Hi William! Thank you for sharing your story and experience. I am a big believer in many of these old time remedies.
Use green Chai tea with some honey and lemon! It has cinnamon already in the tea! Good stuff!
I love a chai but I have not used that for a hot toddy. I imagine it would taste great!
My hubs has bronchitis (tell Thanksgiving guests to come by for a care pkg). I made this using double chai tea, lemon, honey, scotch, apple cider vinegar and a pinch of cayenne. I just took him a large toddy. I’m sure the barking all night cough will ease now. I’ve used this remedy for years and it’s better than store bought stuff.
Sometimes the oldies really are the goodies!