Dr. Pat's Hot Toddy Cold Remedy Recipe - Food.com (2024)

FAQs

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.

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.

It doesn't take much before you can feel its healing effects. I usually poured a 1- or 2-ounce shot and sipped on it for an hour or two. And if you're not sick but want to relax with a drink of brandy, serve it in a stemmed “tulip glass” or “balloon glass,” made of the finest crystal you can afford.

Whiskey: Use your favorite whiskey. Maker's Mark and Wild Turkey are popular choices for hot toddies. Honey: Sweeten things up with a teaspoon of honey. Spices: Whole cloves, a cinnamon stick, and a pinch of nutmeg add warmth and flavor.

Experts say yes — sort of. The folklore goes that a hot toddy – the alcoholic drink composed of hot water, lemon juice, honey and whiskey or rum or brandy – can soothe your sore throat or clear your winter cold-induced congestion.

Yes. 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.

Whiskey can temporarily widen your blood vessels. In small amounts, this can help clear mucus congestion in your sinuses and chest, which lets your body better deal with sickness and infection. This effect may also relieve other symptoms of a cold or flu, like coughing or wheezing.

A hot toddy for a cold or brandy for a cough is made from brandy, honey, hot water, lemon and optional spices like cloves or cinnamon. A shot of brandy, a large teaspoon of honey, juice of half a lemon and then fill your mug with hot water to dissolve the honey. Sip away.

Is Dr brandy good for cough? ›

Brandy for Respiratory(Chest & Lung) Infection

Brandy has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. This makes brandy very effective in relieving respiratory issues such as sore throats and coughs.

Doctor's Brandy isn't just a panacea for your cold and flu. Its Reserve No. 1 Pure VSOP is a rather smooth brandy that has been matured in oak casks for three to seven years. Much like me, for most of us, Doctor's Brandy is a go-to drink to deal with a terrible cold or the flu.

These days, when it comes to making hot toddies, it's a flexible rubric. Maker's Mark and Jameson are popular choices, but they're far from your only option. Try it with rye, Bourbon, rum, or the brown spirit of your choosing. The best whiskey to use in a hot toddy is the one you have on hand.

To make a hot toddy, you just need a few simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand, including lemon, honey and some brown liquor. Some popular liquor choices for a hot toddy are Maker's Mark, Monkey Shoulder or Woodford Reserve.

Jim Beam^® Black Hot Toddy

Extra-aged bourbon adds full-bodied richness, with flavors of vanilla, toasted oak, and baking spice. Perfect for cozy holiday celebrations or quiet nights by the fire.

Myth: Alcohol's decongestant properties can help treat cold symptoms. Alcohol is rumored to work as a decongestant, but actually, the reverse is true. Small amounts of alcohol can cause vasodilation — a widening of blood vessels — which can worsen a runny nose or congestion.

Whether it is an old wives tale or the truth, a Hot Toddy is said to alleviate a cold because it is a decongestant. In “clinical” terms, the alcohol in whiskey dilates the blood vessels, making it easier for your body to deal with the infection.

Hot drinks are a good choice as the hot steam may help relieve nasal congestion.

“You should not drink alcohol when you have a cold,” says Dr. Robert Segal, Co-Founder of LabFinder. “Your immune system is already weakened when you are sick. Adding alcohol to that equation can only prolong the process of getting better.”