The holidays have come and gone and they’ve left me with a cold. Thankfully this unwelcome house guest showed up after Christmas and I was still able to attend all the fun parties and enjoy more than my share of delicious food before my head filled with concrete and I lost my sense of taste.
Hot Toddy to the rescue! Lemon for vitamin C, honey to sooth my throat, and whiskey because why not? Even in its simplest form with just water, lemon and honey, this drink heals. The whiskey does a nice job in numbing the pain.
It’s like a warm hug on a cold day
If kale is a super food then honey is a powerhouse of healing. The list of benefits is long and when stored properly this liquid gold lasts forever. It might crystallize but it never goes bad. If possible, buy your honey from a local producer. Not only is the flavor spectacular, tasting of fresh air and sweet flowers, but the healing benefits are more powerful from the local stuff. From fighting allergies, to suppressing a cough, to beautiful skin, honey does it all. Check your Farmer’s market and grab some the next time you are there.
DID YOU KNOW? Honey is the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and water; and it’s the only food that contains “pinocembrin”, an antioxidant associated with improving brain function.
This timeless remedy and classic cocktail is as refreshing as it is soothing. As I take a sip I breath in the steam and the fresh citrus and earthy cinnamon permeate my sinuses. The sweet honey soothes my sore throat and the hot water and whiskey calm my chills. The spices add comforting flavor reminiscent of home. It’s like a warm hug on a cold day.
Enjoy and take care of yourself!
Mise en Place (enough for 1 cocktail)
- 1 mug
- About 6 oz. of water (3/4 cup)
- 1/2 a lemon plus more for garnish
- 1 heaping teaspoon of honey
- 3 Whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1.5 oz. (1 shot/jigger) of your favorite Whiskey or Bourbon (optional)
Directions
- combine the water and cinamon stick in a pan and bring it just to a simmer on the stove
- Slice the lemon in half and add the juice from half the lemon to the mug
- Next add the honey and whiskey to the mug, stir to combine with the lemon juice
- The water should be nice and hot by now. Using a fork or tongs, carefully remove the cinnamon stick from the hot water and place it in the mug
- Pour the water into the mug and stir gently.
- Cut a slice of lemon from the unused half and press the cloves into the center of lemon, add it to the mug.
- Cheers!
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