At this time of year, no one would blame you if you were a bit partied out. From Thanksgiving to New Years tends to be a glutton-fest of rich food, sweets and frequent libation.
I’m eager to revive the ol’ Friday Cocktail Tradition around here, but sympathetic to folks who may be feeling like a warm, soothing cup of tea might be a better way to go for a bit longer.
Let’s compromise, with an alcoholic drink that’s old-skool medicine: The Grandpa’s Cold Cure. A hot mug of lemon, honey, fresh ginger and over-proof whiskey, this drink will soothe a sore throat and frazzled nerves. And if you prefer to skip the whiskey all-together, well, Grandpa would be horrified but I won’t tell.
Grandpa’s Cold Cure
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. finely grated fresh ginger root
- juice of half a lemon
- a spoonful of honey (raw if you have it)
- piping hot water
- 1.5 oz bourbon, rye, scotch or other strong whiskey
Method
Add the ginger root, lemon juice, and honey to a big, cozy mug. Add enough piping hot water to fill the mug about 3/4-full. Stir until the honey is well dissolved. Add the whiskey to the mug and stir to combine. Sip slowly next to a fire, or while relaxing in a warm bath, then go straight to bed.
Happy Friday, everyone!
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The Baldwin Sisters (from “the Waltons”, y’all) would totally approve of this variation on Papa’s Recipe.
This also works really well with Sloe Gin 😉
Well, this is exactly up my alley. Bourbon for the win! This is very similar to the hot toddies I drink copiously as nightcaps. I love the idea of adding fresh ginger!
The first time I ever had this was at the age of 12. I had pneumonia. Now you have to realize I am 73 now. And whiskey is the best. It’s not to get you hammered . It is to make the severity of the cold sweat out of you. Know that you have to keep covered up. And also that you and your sheets will be soaked from sweat from the remedy. Yup, you’ll have to take a shower and wash your sheets for sure. But I never used the ginger root. As a matter of fact I have pneumonia as I write this. Guess I am going to do a “Hot Toddie “tonight.
I discovered this in the fall, when I had a lingering cough that wouldn’t stop, the kind that not only wakes me up 10 times per night, but also my husband, the cats, and the kids in separate rooms. And no regular doctor (I’ve fixed that), so I couldn’t do my usual thing when I get this cough (once every 5 years or so) and have them call in a codeine prescription. And, you have to understand, that over the counter cough syrup doesn’t work (a quick web search confirms that OTC cough syrup works no better than a spoonful of honey). The medicinal hot toddy (I used ginger cubes soaked in vodka that someone gave me as a gift a year or two ago, and a spoonful of the liquid as well, lemon juice, honey, about a half shot of bourbon, fill the cup with hot water) not only was completely yummy, but was just enough to turn down the sensitivity on my throat enough to sleep the entire night without waking up coughing once! So, total thumbs up on this one, preferably with decent bourbon. Yum!
Well timed…*cough, cough, cough* bronchitis is wreaking havoc with all in my household just now. I’ll be skipping the whiskey (to give to the 3 year old), but I haven’t made this with ginger before. I usually just do honey lemon. Excited to try it with ginger. Thanks!
I’m glad you’re blogging again, because this is the only reason I got any sleep last night. I have an infant sharing a room with me, and my coughing wakes us both up, which starts a vicious cycle of never sleep again. I didn’t have ginger, and only used a dash of whiskey since I’m breastfeeding, but near abstinence has made me a light weight so that was all I needed. So soothing! So sleep inducing! I will never take NyQuil again.
Why in the world are you ruining good whisky with water & ice cubes? Have a great bottle of Jamison’s & add fresh lemon if you must but really, a good swig of Dear Ole Jamison’s is all you need—-it is wonderful & you will agree as the warm, satiny, Jamison’s slides down your priveledged throat–you can then think of & hold your glass in salute to “the old SOD.”
Please stop ruining your great spirits with ice cubes & water or whatever else you might think of.