Deliciously boozy cures to combat the dreaded common cold & co

Hey, company, have you met misery? Sucks, doesn’t it? Well, it doesn’t always have to be the case.  Here are some deliciously boozy drinks to soothe and relieve the trifecta that is better known as the common cold, sinuses and itchy throats.

These spirits are mixed with common everyday kitchen ingredients known for its healing and medicinal properties.  While they tend to be mostly whisky-based, other spirits like rum, wine and even vodka can also be used as boozy alternatives.

The most famous boozy cure for the common cold, of course, is the hot toddy. Its name, however, is a bit of a misnomer. No one really knows how this name came to be, but there is a Scottish and an Indian version that stake claim to it. The Scottish version states that the name comes from a well called Todian that supplied water to Edinburgh, whereas the Indian version claims that the name was introduced to the Scottish lexicon by someone from the East Indian Company.

1. Hot Toddy

This is the classic go-to drink when you have an itchy and scratchy throat. It is incredibly easy to make at home. While there is no actual toddy involved, this requires a handful of ingredients namely: whisky, honey, hot water, lemon and cinnamon sticks.  Get the recipe  

Image Courtesy: Patrick Truby

2. Mulled Wine 

Whip out this classic Christmas staple when you’re down with the sniffles. Make a large batch to keep you sorted. All you need is red wine, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange or lime wedges to get this brew started. If you’re looking for a fancy twist, check this video out: 

3. Hot Buttered Rum 

Rum, a pirates’ favourite tipple, and a festive favourite, rum can also aid in soothing and relieving colds and coughs.  If you’re looking for something simple, just mix some hot water to your peg of rum, and add spices like cloves, cinnamon and star anise.  Simple, quick and ridiculously easy to make, this is an excellent alternative to whisky. Here’s the .   

4. Hot Vodka Lemon

This sore throat soother is another winner, and is a popular drink in Central Asia. Lemon zest, cinnamon, honey and vodka are all the simple ingredients that you need.  Simply mix ½ a cup of honey to 4 cups of water along with the lemon zest and cinnamon stick. Marry the ingredients together in a pot for about 30 minutes.  Liberally pour into a glass, and add a splash of vodka at the end, and adjust for taste.

Do you’ll have a favourite boozy cure? Let us know in the comments section.